Positive Flotation Secret Compartments

PDQ issues applicable across all PDQ Yachts (or if you can't find a place for something, it probably belongs here for now)
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MagicDragon
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Positive Flotation Secret Compartments

Post by MagicDragon »

Several questions surrounding this posting:
#1 Where are all the positive flotation compartments located and where is inspection access located for each one (does anyone have a plan for these on the 36' LRC)?
#2 Just returned from thorough examination of the two lower compartments hidden under both the forward anchor lockers and pumped out several gallons of water from one, and only a few inches in the other. (We experienced holes in the hull as a result of recent lightning strike - could it have come in then? Water was not smelly, and had a pink tinge, possible from leftover antifreeze?) If this is a sealed compartment, how did that water get in there? We found pink water in the port bilge after our winter service, and the yard claimed not to know how it got in there, so it was interesting to find same water in that sealed compartment.

I want to check any other secret compartments as well so I can find the recurring water we are finding in the bilges. We've rebedded chainplates and the four primary opening hatches on the cabin sides above the galley and nav seat, we've checked all the stanchion plates and all the water tank fittings. Further suggestions anyone?
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Angela Barbati
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near Cleveland, OH
amytom
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Re: Positive Flotation Secret Compartments

Post by amytom »

Not to scare you but my first thought when you said pink water was: the foam core material. If it is left wet long enough could it dissolve into the water?
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Re: Positive Flotation Secret Compartments

Post by Page 83 »

While Page 83 was still on the hard this spring, James Power showed me two secret compartments forward of the stateroom berths, accessible from the aft inboard walls of the lockers in the bows. This caused me a particularly emotional moment.

PDQ 36026 began life at the 1993 Miami Boat Show display boat, purchased by a noted agricultural entrepreneur from Medellin, Columbia named Pablo Escobar. Yes, that one. He christened her the Santa Maria. I have no personal knowlege of his Pinta or Nina.

As a result, Hull 26 has been thoroughly explored by several Alphabet Agencies of the US Government, and every access plate, cover, and removeable structure has been repeatedly removed and replaced. But not the little spin-off covers to these lateral air tanks; they were full of grey water. I promised James I would pump them out later, and I promised myself I would do so under the cover of darkness, because a LOT of people (including myself) considered it possible that there were easily negotiable items of value hidden away someplace on board. Diamonds were MY choice. The fact that these plates didn't spin off with the snap of a finger as do every other on the boat, caused my heart to beat a little harder. And my hands started sweating. James may have noticed subtle hints of burgeoning avariciousness, such as uncontrolled drooling.

Later that week I assembled my mining tools: an inline pump, flashlight, and cheap netcam plugged into a laptop. I began pumping in the early morning rain, trying to watch what the pump was stirring up with the little video camera, but seeing nothing but battleship grey water. I climbed out of the hole to stretch my aching back and glanced down at the rain puddle under the boat; something glinted in the weak morning light. I slipped and fell TWICE scrambling off the boat, scanning the horizon for witnesses, and chuckling gleefully under my breath. Down on my aching knees on the cold, sharp gravel I found it.





It was a piece of broken glass.


:? :oops:
Sandy Daugherty "Page 83" PDQ 36026
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Re: Positive Flotation Secret Compartments

Post by MagicDragon »

Sandy, that sounds like the beginning of a novel - very funny, but so sorry you haven't yet found your hidden treasure!
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Re: Positive Flotation Secret Compartments

Post by Phenix-former-owner »

Sandy, if you find anything, you do know that maritime law required you to share the proceeds with other PDQ owners. :lol:
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Re: Positive Flotation Secret Compartments

Post by Page 83 »

Having consulted an Admiralty Specialist on the subject, I am having the broken glass fragment analyzed by a Diamond Cutter to determine the best way to divide it into 445 pieces, so that it can be sent to each past and present PDQ owner, employee, investor, and samples to each Alphabet Agency. This, of course constitutes a considerable up-front expense, and I find myself having to ask each of you to send me a US or Canadian $10 bill in a security envelope, with a stamped, self addressed return envelope in order to fulfill my responsibilities to the group. Your patience and understanding is much appreciated, and you can look forward to owning your own share of the magnificent Pablo Escobar Legacy very soon. Add another tenner if you would like a mimeographed statement of authenticity as provenance for this rare potential family heirloom.
Sandy Daugherty "Page 83" PDQ 36026
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Re: Positive Flotation Secret Compartments

Post by eepstein »

We get water (but no diamonds) in 4 of the 6 compartments (not in the ones on the front of the bridge deck). James worked on the seals in the inspection ports and it greatly reduced the water - which means some simply leaked in through the inspection ports. But they still get some water. I have yet to figure out where the mystery leaks come from. I use a wet/dry vac twice a summer on them. I got roughly 200lbs of fresh water total out of the boat each time.

On an LRC you may not have the stern compartments under the steering gear.

If I find out more causes, I'll post it.

I also have fresh water in the starboard bilge (a trickle from the AC, and sometimes about 50 gallons that magically appears). I have yet to figure out that one either. I'm assuming rain. I haven't used that much from the tank.

I did figure out the shower stall port water. It gets water from a leak in the coupling from the shower sump drain and from rain dripping in from the holding locker above. Perhaps it overflows to the starboard bilge - have proven it yet.
Eric & Bonnie Epstein
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Re: Positive Flotation Secret Compartments

Post by Lady of the Lake »

Eric,
The water in the starboard bilge most likely enters the boat as rain through the starboard running light. Pull it apart and seal it very well and I will bet your leak disappears. Mine did...

Sam
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Re: Positive Flotation Secret Compartments

Post by maxicrom »

II the Max is one of the of the older models (Hull #12 1991) and I added Py-Hy access ports in the rear compartments so that I can pump out the little water that accumulates in there. I'm not sure how the water gets in - possibly through the Aft stay bolt holes. The starboard side usually accumulates a little more. The small compartment ** behind the head (where the water heater was originally installed is our worse offender, if I got off my can and re-did the hatch seal it would be better). As soon as the hatch drain tube clogs water leaks in that area and eventually works forward into the bilges. I just bought a small pump that I intend to mount on the end of a pole so that I can reach through the Py-Hy to cleanout the Stbd center and aft. compartments. I'll let you know how it works.

FYI: We used that compartment ** to move our holding tank from inside the boat - it is 18 gal mounted upright on the outboard side. That has really helped with head odor but probably added to our aft of center weight, and made that small compartment almost impossible to move around in. We replaced the propane water heater with a small 4 gallon electric/engine heated model in port aft compartment behind the motor which works well (we switched the heater element with a 15A 220v model and at 110v it only draws 7.5A which is great - not as fast to recover but 4 Gallons does not take long anyway).

Our forward compartments stay pretty dry - only a little condensation from time to time.

Mike
Mike & Linda
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