SCREAM! My modified WB tank; also CB pin

Posted By: Gary, Santana 2023, Milwaukee
Date: 3/17/08 4:38p.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

Totally unbelievable, and quite awesome... I think! OK, thanks to Bob, Paul and Todd, who got me thinking a little today while adrift in the doldrums. Well... last fall, while up at the Mackinac Bridge of Michigan, I mentioned that, swimming under the boat, I finally felt the water ingress/egress hole up in the CB trunk, and that it was all the way forward, a vertical rectangle on the front face of the trunk? Also, that I could feel something up in there, that it would "push away" from my finger tips, then shove back against the slot openning? So, ok, here goes, though not sure if I can make myself understood in writing. I came home, immediately crawled under the boat with a strong flashlight. What I saw amazed me, as apparently I *do* have a lower valve, explained (poorly) as follows, with poor picture to be attached for reference. Will appreciate any input. On the inside of this 'entrance', there appears to be a very well fabricated valve. Also (presumably) rectangular in shape. I guess my best description would be a "vertically hung trap door", which remains SHUT. I can push it open with my finger tip, but it immediately slaps shut when I remove my fingers. There is an extension, sort of like a pipe, sticking AFT from this (flap?) valve. Attached to the forward top corner of the CB (top AFT corner when deployed underway) there is an attached and 'raised' plate. Appears to be a large rubber plug, but not sure yet. Only when the CB is fully raised/stowed in the trunk, this rubber plug is forced mechanically against the valve stem, which in turn is obviously pushing open this very substantial drain/fill... valve? Openning? In either event, sudden understanding of why/how the tank drains (and fills) so incredibly fast when the upper 'air' vent is opened under the sink. OK, I admit, I am stunned at how much THOUGHT, design and work went into the numerous modifications made to my 2023. Knowing the tank has been opened in the past, well... wow. This is totally cool. So, knowing the picture to not be the best angle, CB in the way, I decide to remove the CB, dropping it out and forward, per Seth (thanks, Seth!). Sudden problem. After digging out the filler, exposing the pin: pin appears to have been epoxied in place across its top... as in metal epoxy, not glass. WORSE... it appears that the shop that did this work, filled the CB pin with some hardenING 'something', before slapping it in place, sticking the bolts/screws in. I literally cannot budge these bolts/screws. Wanted to get them out to post a better pic. Now, not so frigging sure I'll ever get them out without having to do a lot of repair work (drilling them out, etc). So, sorry if the pic isn't the best, but it's the 'best' I can get right now. What do you guys think? Gary