GB 36 - how many bilge spaces

[Caballero II]

My 1982 Grand Banks Classic has bilge pumps in the forward part of the engine room, with a 4-6" sump there, where there is a standard (hopefully robust) pump, with a high water pump poised above it (hopefully not too high above it, but I'm going to double check it). I have assumed that GB did not add other bilge stations because the partitions/bulkheads were porous/perforated enough that other stations and elevations were not needed. The area aft where the shaft enters the hull, and where my PSS "Dripless Seal" resides does not provide space for a sump pump, nor is there any kind of deep bilge forward under the V-berth. So, am I covered by maximizing flooding pumps in the ER sump area, for those of you with GB experience?

 

[SteveK]

My 71 GB had a low point in the forward head. That bilge pump did all the pumping.

 

[Caballero II]

My 71 GB had a low point in the forward head. That bilge pump did all the pumping.

Good to hear from you Steve. Thanks for the info, but since your boat is a woodie, I'm not sure your observation applies. I have no bilge under the forward head, which is a wet head. Just a sump pump for the shower pan. I'm looking for experience among those pre-1988 (about when they changed the molds) fiber glass models.

 

[SteveK]

Here is a picture of an 86. It looks like the hull still has a low point under the forward head. The midship pump was for 'what if' situations as there would be 4-8" already up front.

 

[oguidry]

My 1989 GB 36 had a mechanical bilge pump in the engine room sump and three float activated electric bilge pumps - one in the engine room adjacent to the sump, one in the forward cabin bilge, and one in the aft cabin bilge under the center line berth.

 

[Caballero II]

My 1989 GB 36 had a mechanical bilge pump in the engine room sump and three float activated electric bilge pumps - one in the engine room adjacent to the sump, one in the forward cabin bilge, and one in the aft cabin bilge under the center line berth.

Ok. Now we've had a woodie GB 36 weigh in, and a post-88 GB 36 (1989) after the mold change. Frustrating to say the least? Can I hear from any original 1973's thru 1988 FG GB 36 owners? Do you have any bilge spaces fore or aft of the forward er sump that seem to require a bilge pump? I can't find such a space in my 1982 version, but would like to get some confirmation before I upgrade my bilge pump capabilities. Thanks you.

 

[Shrew]

My 1982 Grand Banks Classic has bilge pumps in the forward part of the engine room, with a 4-6" sump there, where there is a standard (hopefully robust) pump, with a high water pump poised above it (hopefully not too high above it, but I'm going to double check it). I have assumed that GB did not add other bilge stations because the partitions/bulkheads were porous/perforated enough that other stations and elevations were not needed. The area aft where the shaft enters the hull, and where my PSS "Dripless Seal" resides does not provide space for a sump pump, nor is there any kind of deep bilge forward under the V-berth. So, am I covered by maximizing flooding pumps in the ER sump area, for those of you with GB experience?

A lot of weird assumptions. Bulkheads are neither porous nor perforated. They are solid. Many will have a limber hole at the lowest point, to drain from one section to another. I have 4 sections in my hull, each separated by a bulkhead. There is a bilge pump in the stern section, the engine compartment and the section in front of the engine compartment.

How many pumps are installed is an economic decision. I would put one in each bilge section. Whether the boat is fiberglass or wood is irrelevant. Whether the manufacturer installed 1 or 4 is irrelevant.

 

[Cigatoo]

Caballero, Our GB 36 (1984 hull# 715 old body style) Has two bilge pumps. The primary is a gulper pump mounted to the forward engine room bulkhead with a PVC (Intake) pipe that runs to the bottom of the sump. It uses a Water Witch switch that turns on before the sump is full. The second pump is a Rule 2000 that is mounted on the bilge itself and will activate as a secondary pump. Basic Rule float switch. The secondary never runs or even gets wet unless I test it.
To answer your question the bilge is open from fore to aft. From memory there are limber holes aft near the propeller shaft draining to the bilge. Under the forward head / V birth is open and runs under the forward bulk head to the sump.

 

[Caballero II]

A lot of weird assumptions. Bulkheads are neither porous nor perforated. They are solid. Many will have a limber hole at the lowest point, to drain from one section to another. I have 4 sections in my hull, each separated by a bulkhead. There is a bilge pump in the stern section, the engine compartment and the section in front of the engine compartment.

How many pumps are installed is an economic decision. I would put one in each bilge section. Whether the boat is fiberglass or wood is irrelevant. Whether the manufacturer installed 1 or 4 is irrelevant.

No weird assumptions. To start with, bulkheads with limber holes and conduits are porous/perforated by definition. Whether the manufacturer installed bilge sump spaces for 1 or 4 is not irrelevant, but is exactly the question being asked to GB 36 owners of the appropriate period. This is not an economic decision at all, but one based on the builder's plan.

 

[Caballero II]

Caballero, Our GB 36 (1984 hull# 715 old body style) Has two bilge pumps. The primary is a gulper pump mounted to the forward engine room bulkhead with a PVC (Intake) pipe that runs to the bottom of the sump. It uses a Water Witch switch that turns on before the sump is full. The second pump is a Rule 2000 that is mounted on the bilge itself and will activate as a secondary pump. Basic Rule float switch. The secondary never runs or even gets wet unless I test it.
To answer your question the bilge is open from fore to aft. From memory there are limber holes aft near the propeller shaft draining to the bilge. Under the forward head / V birth is open and runs under the forward bulk head to the sump.

Carl, thank you. That was a surprisingly difficult to obtain answer to a very simple question. Your setup mirrors mine with a primary and secondary pump. That's all I needed to know. Thank you again.

 

[Todd Pollock]

Our 1976 GB 36 manual and automatic bilge pumps are located directly ahead of the single engine below the engine room forward bulkhead. The bilge is open fore to aft and any water that gets in the boat ends up where the pumps are located. It's the low point of the bilge.

 

[Todd Pollock]

It took some time, but I eventually found all the places water was coming in and now our bilge stays bone dry.

 

[Caballero II]

Our 1976 GB 36 manual and automatic bilge pumps are located directly ahead of the single engine below the engine room forward bulkhead. The bilge is open fore to aft and any water that gets in the boat ends up where the pumps are located. It's the low point of the bilge.

Todd, thank you very much. That's as I thought, but wanted some confirmation before proceeding with my next project.

 

[Seadrift]

Hi, our GB36 Classic, hull 480 from 1975 has one sump and pump in the fwd. part of the engine room behind the main bulkhead between the engine bearers for twin JD AMMarine 404's. All areas in the boat drain there through limber holes in bulkheads.

 

[SteveK]

Hi, our GB36 Classic, hull 480 from 1975 has one sump and pump in the fwd. part of the engine room behind the main bulkhead between the engine bearers for twin JD AMMarine 404's. All areas in the boat drain there through limber holes in bulkheads.

Is there a limber hole under the bulkhead wall forward of the sump?

 

[Seadrift]

Hi Steve, Yes, the fwd section in the front cabin often has some water ingress from I think the anchor chain locker and that drains OK to the engine room sump through that bulkhead so there must be a limber hole although I have never specifically looked for it.

 

[SteveK]

Hi Steve, Yes, the fwd section in the front cabin often has some water ingress from I think the anchor chain locker and that drains OK to the engine room sump through that bulkhead so there must be a limber hole although I have never specifically looked for it.

Does the floor in head and V berth come open. My GB 36 was a 71 and the low point was under the head floor board where the sump pump did most of the work. There was the remains of a sump pump found where yours is which was covered by Inverter house bank, so maybe the reason I had the bilge pump under head floor.

 

[Seadrift]

Hi Steve, yes there is a hatch in the cabin floor between the V berths and in the fwd head.
I regularly open the cabin floor hatch as that is where the two sea cocks for the seawater in line for toilet flush and deck wash and sink outlet. Any water in there is at the same level as in the engine room sump so drains when pumped from the sump to dry I don't regularly open the head sole hatch as there is nothing there of significance.

 

[ronobrien]

My 1982 Grand Banks Classic has bilge pumps in the forward part of the engine room, with a 4-6" sump there, where there is a standard (hopefully robust) pump, with a high water pump poised above it (hopefully not too high above it, but I'm going to double check it). I have assumed that GB did not add other bilge stations because the partitions/bulkheads were porous/perforated enough that other stations and elevations were not needed. The area aft where the shaft enters the hull, and where my PSS "Dripless Seal" resides does not provide space for a sump pump, nor is there any kind of deep bilge forward under the V-berth. So, am I covered by maximizing flooding pumps in the ER sump area, for those of you with GB experience?

My 1973 GB36 has all the bilge areas and lazarette communicating with one another.