R23 Limber Holes?

[Nickc]

I am second owner of Ranger Tug 23 2019. The holding tank-filled red sensor light stopped working last season and the holding tank backed up thru the vent. I believe some effluent may have gotten in the midship bulkhead compartment that contains the holding-tank, water-tank & fuel-tank. In an attempt to flush out this area to the stern and then pump out --- I put about 5-10 gal of water in v/birth bilge with the expectation that the water would reach the stern bilge area--- and then I could flush out area. The water from the bow bilge never got to the stern and I therefore had to hand pump out the bow bilge area. Apparently, there is no flow from bow to stern bilge via the small limber holes in the bulkheads. I then tried pushing a thin flat steel sewer snake line into the forward and aft limber bulkhead holes, but meet hard resistance after inserting the line about 6 inches.
My questions === Is there supposed to be drainage from the forward to aft bilges? and can I assume they are blocked? Is the compartment w/ fuel water and black water holding tank sealed, such that any liquid getting in that compartment has no way to get out other than vacuum it out? What is best way to clear out the limber holes without damaging the 3 plastic tanks in the hull midsection?

 

[SeaCabin]

I am second owner of Ranger Tug 23 2019. The holding tank-filled red sensor light stopped working last season and the holding tank backed up thru the vent. I believe some effluent may have gotten in the midship bulkhead compartment that contains the holding-tank, water-tank & fuel-tank. In an attempt to flush out this area to the stern and then pump out --- I put about 5-10 gal of water in v/birth bilge with the expectation that the water would reach the stern bilge area--- and then I could flush out area. The water from the bow bilge never got to the stern and I therefore had to hand pump out the bow bilge area. Apparently, there is no flow from bow to stern bilge via the small limber holes in the bulkheads. I then tried pushing a thin flat steel sewer snake line into the forward and aft limber bulkhead holes, but meet hard resistance after inserting the line about 6 inches.
My questions === Is there supposed to be drainage from the forward to aft bilges? and can I assume they are blocked? Is the compartment w/ fuel water and black water holding tank sealed, such that any liquid getting in that compartment has no way to get out other than vacuum it out? What is best way to clear out the limber holes without damaging the 3 plastic tanks in the hull midsection?

 

[SeaCabin]

 

[Baetz]

I had the same problem in my R29, 2012. A leaking water line to the shower put 80 gallons of water in the forward compartment that would not run aft to the bilge pump because of blocked limber holes. It is dangerous. The picture shows the limber holes, I got a similar picture from Ranger. Getting to the limber holes and clearing it out is a whole different problem. I still haven’t cleared my forward to aft holes because the holes are underneath the engine in the bilge trough. Driving it out is not the way to go, potential for damage.

 

[Nickc]

Thanks for the reply. Recently I was at a Ranger Tug rendezvous in Essex, Connecticut - while there I visited someone with an R25. I noticed that he had a small factory auto bilge pump in the vbirth-area, adjacent to the sealed box holding the shower pump. I’m thinking until I solve method of clearing the limber holes- that maybe I will just drill one inch round hole in the side of the plastic box for the shower pump & plug it with a plug that I can pull out in case of an emergency and need to have a pump going in the vbirth-bilge. Right now I need to do by a hand pump.
In reference to clearing the blockage – the next time I go down to the boat, I’m gonna try high-pressure hose from the stern end limber hole.

 

[az9133bm]

Despite what looks like limber holes in the stringers along the keel, water sequestered in our forward bilge area (near the shower pump) has never made its way to the rear bilge in our boat. We suspect that the keel limber holes are clogged due to our discovery of limber holes in the port stringers (below the Cave/Pullman berth) and the starboard stringers (below helm/galley) that were clogged from factory construction debris. See attached photos. We cleaned the limber holes in these locations and know they function.

Inside View.

• az9133bm
• Apr 13, 2019

View of access doors from inside Pullman Berth

It is a regretful design that you cannot access the center-line bilge in the R23. We've considered cutting access but will only execute if it is required (due to tank leaks, plumbing issues, etc.). If we ever do access the center section, we intend to install limber chains through the center limber holes giving us a way to keep them clean routinely. Some day we will figure out how to access the center section and report back