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ť Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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ť Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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ť Topic: The Bilge ?
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=3590

In what way was the internal wood surfaces itself down in the bilge (and hidden areas) protected from the effects of moisture?

Posted By: Jimmy | Posted on: Jun 17, 2014 - 4:56am
Total Posts: 2 | Joined: May 3, 2022 - 11:08am

Jimmy,
Bureau of ships spec. states that entire insides of the boat be painted with primer and two coats of fire retardant white. I would take this to include the bilge.
Special attention was also to be made to clearing drain holes between frames and ensuring the shaft glands were watertight.
Have a look here, there is loads of info:

http://hnsa.org/doc/pt/specs/index.htm

Best Regards,
Stu.

Posted By: Stuart Hurley | Posted on: Jun 17, 2014 - 7:23am
Total Posts: 255 | Joined: Mar 19, 2013 - 3:32am

ON MY BOAT/PTT 108 I STORED CANNED GOODS IN THE GALLEY BILGE.I CHECKED THERE OFTEN TO SEE THE DRAIN HOLES WERE OPEN SO THE WATER THAT SEEPED IN WAS DRAWN OUT.I WAS ABLE TO GET SOME PLYWOOD MATERIAL TO LAY ACROSS THE FRAMES TO KEEP THE CANNED GOODS ABOVE THE WATER.I DONKNT REALLY KNOW WHERE THE WATER CAME FROM EXCEPT IT SEEPED IN VERY SLOWLY AND DID NOT RAISE UP TOO HIGH.THE PAint lookled lkike a white enamel somewewhat

earl richmond

Posted By: earl | Posted on: Jun 17, 2014 - 8:13pm
Total Posts: 197 | Joined: Oct 18, 2006 - 12:13pm

Thanks Earl for the story that only one who's been there could tell. Very clever safe space for the canned goods!

Did you ever run across any pilfering of food stores?

Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: Jun 19, 2014 - 5:25am
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am

NO PILFERAGE .WHAt we had was nit really worth pilfering.it was somewhat better after it was cooked.(most of the time)

earl richmond

Posted By: earl | Posted on: Jun 19, 2014 - 6:50am
Total Posts: 197 | Joined: Oct 18, 2006 - 12:13pm

Heh, thanks Earl.

Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: Jun 19, 2014 - 8:18am
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am

I had not thought of bilges for years. I hated bilge cleaning detail. It was one hell of a dirty job. Especially the engine room. When we would change engines we had to clean the bilges under the engines. Mr. Raney had us use lye and scrapers to cut the grease. There would be all kinds of crap that had fallen under those engines. Tools, spare parts, rags. paper. It took about a week to get your hands clean of grease after that job.

C. J. Willis

Posted By: CJ Willis | Posted on: Jun 21, 2014 - 8:25am
Total Posts: 464 | Joined: Nov 5, 2006 - 5:02pm