Hole cut in bilge floor for pump
 

Hi - I came across this hole the previous owner cut in the bilge, accessing a lower, glassed in section of the hull. It is filled with water and had a pump recessed in the hole (???). What is the purpose of this? Should I leave as is? Cover / fill the hole? roughly 2 inches deep until it hits the bottom of the hull - '85 scarab 21 SS. I absolutely hate drilling holes anywhere not necessary, but this is something else, would love your insight

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...293c3868a5.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...752808262a.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...6fda263b55.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...55e2487be9.jpg

What's the larger plate forward for??

Large metal plate has the original float switch and bilge pump mounting. The blue one looks like a hack job

So the bottom of the bilge is actually a liner? Does the garboard drain/drain plug, drain/go into that cavity?

You can see the drain plug in pictures 1,2&4, sure looks like a liner, i would upgrade that pump and run it on the ramp before & after every outing. Only questions are where's the gas tank ? How far forward does that liner go ? Do forward sections of the boat drain into the liner or under the liner into that cavity?

21 scarab sounds like a cool boat

Have you remove the plate to see if it's an access.

Hole in false bottom of bilge seems like it might have been for a depth finder transducer originally. They don't like to shoot thru air or wood.

Never heard of anyone cutting a hole for a bilge pump but I have heard of folks doing something like that to get their depth finder to work.

I see a drain, but not necessarily "the drain". If the main garboard drain isnt below the liner, then that cavity always holds water? Would make sense to install the bilge pump the way it is done then, no?

Appreciate all of the responses, will take a closer look this weekend. There is a transom mounted transducer but I don't recall ever seeing signs of one being below this bilge floor. I am wondering if there is water in there due to the hole, or the hole + bilge pump was a response to water collecting there