I finally decided to pull the trigger and dig out the vermiculite. At first glance the vermiculite did not seem to bad. But the closer I got to the bilgs and ice box drain the moer black showed up. I consider leaving some of it but I kept coming across veins of black. The black was the smell stuff. OF bigger concern was the condition of the bilge and ice box hoses. They were very brittle. Of course the only way to replace them is to remove the vermiculite. I still havn't decided how I'm going to replace it all. Does any one know how far under the engine compartment the vermiculte goes? I'l post pictures of phatom364.blogspot.com
soon.
John
John

Check this thread and the links to the pictures Rich Miller posted: http://j30.us/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/5942/Re_Dewatering_Aft_Bilge_Need_A.html#Post5942

I have two related questions:
1. Blue J is a "late model" (hull #503), with a full wood cabin floor. I have reason to believe that water from the secondary bilge slowly seeps forward to the main bilge, but not through any hose connection. Does anyone know if the later hulls also have the vermiculite?
2. My bilge also has the ~1.5" hose for the bilge pump, a smaller white hose that I assume is the icebox drain, and another 1.5" hose coming out of the aft end of the bilge and running forward a couple feet. Any idea what the third hose is for?

Thanks.

Peter