Older SeaRay no bilge in the cabin?

[Truegrain]

Hello,

I have been rebuilding a 1979 srv 300 in the past year
and have a few question.
Shouldn't their be a bilge pump of some sort in the cabin?
And how would I go about building one if possible?
Their doesn't seem to be much room.

Also if I removed the glassed in flotation boxes filled with foam below the gunwale would that oppose a structural problem? I don't mind the box
but would like to make it accessible for running wire pipe etc.
I also have read them to be problematic for absorbing water.
what are your thoughts?

 

[Truegrain]

Also need to mention the flotation boxes I want to remove are/were filled with water.
I drilled a few hole in the bottom of them and water poured out.
When taping every square inch with a small hammer it all had a solid sound except one spot were were I suspect wood rot.

 

[cmount1]

All of the foam has been removed from my boat since 1991 which was holding water. I had to repair wood rot in one of the stringers and added a couple of cross braces in the process. From the factory my boat has two pumps, one near the front of the engines which are mid-ship and the other is at the stern.

If there's water you really don't have a choice, you have to get it out, no matter how.

 

[Truegrain]

All of the foam has been removed from my boat since 1991 which was holding water. I had to repair wood rot in one of the stringers and added a couple of cross braces in the process. From the factory my boat has two pumps, one near the front of the engines which are mid-ship and the other is at the stern.

If there's water you really don't have a choice, you have to get it out, no matter how.

My 2 pumps are located the same as yours.
The foam boxes run from Stearn to berth.
When I removed all the foam and boxes do I need to rebuild the boxes solid?
These boxes support all the tanks, head/shower seating, and galley cabinets.
I am entertaining the idea of making just a shelf with ss support legs.
I certainly am not looking for shortcuts. My main focus is properly addressing what can be Potentially problematic.

By trade I build custom furniture and the work I have no problem with. However, I Know verry little on boat construction and will take all the help I can get!

 

[Saverio]

truegrain

look up Pietro
he has a 390
he did a restoration tread where he removed all the foam and left it out. he explains why and made all new storage area with it.

Saverio