Bilge Location and Dimension
Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 2:50 am
Hi All,
I have an early model west coast Triton (hull number 106) which I understand has a deep bilge under the fiberglass sole which serves as a built-in water tank. A fellow west coast Triton (hull number 256) owner (Ray Alsup) has pictures of the bilge on his website which I have copied here (sorry Ray I did not ask for your permission to post here first - let me know if you disapprove it).

As Ray eloquently puts it "...folks at TAP Plastics who gave me the same recommendation given to those traveling to Mexico: 'enjoy yourself but don't drink the water.' " I also do not feel that water is safe for drinking regardless the condition of the built-in tank. And since I would like to keep the bilge area for drinking water storage I am planning to install a plastic or stainless steel tank. However, I have already installed the teak and holy sole on top of the original fiberglass sole and would like to preserve the it if at all possible. Therefore, the only way I can think of to install the water tank is by cutting out as a large opening in the precisely the right location as possible. Having installed the teak and holy sole means that I do no have the luxury of cutting out a test hole first and patch it up (I guess I could if I don't care about the cosmetics of such a surgical scar). Therefore, I am desperately in need of the measure of the location and dimension of the built in bige water tank. Anyone could help me with that information will be much apprecaited.
Best regards,
Ray
I have an early model west coast Triton (hull number 106) which I understand has a deep bilge under the fiberglass sole which serves as a built-in water tank. A fellow west coast Triton (hull number 256) owner (Ray Alsup) has pictures of the bilge on his website which I have copied here (sorry Ray I did not ask for your permission to post here first - let me know if you disapprove it).


As Ray eloquently puts it "...folks at TAP Plastics who gave me the same recommendation given to those traveling to Mexico: 'enjoy yourself but don't drink the water.' " I also do not feel that water is safe for drinking regardless the condition of the built-in tank. And since I would like to keep the bilge area for drinking water storage I am planning to install a plastic or stainless steel tank. However, I have already installed the teak and holy sole on top of the original fiberglass sole and would like to preserve the it if at all possible. Therefore, the only way I can think of to install the water tank is by cutting out as a large opening in the precisely the right location as possible. Having installed the teak and holy sole means that I do no have the luxury of cutting out a test hole first and patch it up (I guess I could if I don't care about the cosmetics of such a surgical scar). Therefore, I am desperately in need of the measure of the location and dimension of the built in bige water tank. Anyone could help me with that information will be much apprecaited.
Best regards,
Ray