Flotation Styrofoam: Transom Compartment???

[John C. Harris]

>>> I see no reason not to drill a limber hole at the bottom of bulkhead 8.

Oh, definitely don't do that. First, it's part of the boat's catastrophic-flooding safety scheme to have Bulkhead 8 watertight and separate from the accommodations.

Secondly, it reminds me of one reason I gave PocketShip such generous storage lazarette storage: the need to pack out your trash if you go cruising. I envisioned one whole side being filled with garbage (in bags). I found my cruising duration in my nice little Montgomery 15 limited somewhat by trash storage. On one cruise the remains of a can of sardines got loose in the bilges and contributed to me shortening the cruise... Keeping the garbage on the other side of a watertight bulkhead is ideal.

I endorse the efforts of some builders to cover the exposed foam in the lazarette with paneling. I think my favorite treatment was the builder who raised the floor of the lazarette so that the compartments self-bailed through drains in the transom. Making the floors of the compartments truly watertight is a good bit of fussy work, and you lose a good bit of storage volume. But it's a safety bonus and you don't have to worry about water collecting in there as it has from time to time in PocketShip #1.

[DanaDCole]

I was a bit hasty with that limber hole comment--thought better of it later. I do remember reading somewhere on this forum, though, that a drain hole with plug was intended in BH 8 and I got two plugs with my hull hardware kit. So I decided to drill the hole and mount the plug. That way I can open the plug from time to time while trailered to let out any water that may have found its way in. If properly installed I don't think it will make the compartment any less watertight, and I will also be putting in floatation foam as shown in the plans.