by tomodda » Tue Dec 21, 2021 5:45 pm
I don't sail a DS2, but.... (these are famous last words! anyway this is gonna be my opinion)
I'd be fine with opening an inspection port while underway and sticking a hose or manual bilge pump down there. If things are calm enough that you can fiddle with a hose, then things are calm enough to not worry about an open port into buoyancy spaces. That being said (written), why are you taking on so much water into your bilge space? By definition (enclosed bilge), it shouldn't be taking in spray or rain. Is your centerboard leaking? Seems as if DS2's like to leak thru the downhaul/uphaul openings. You may want to check that first, plenty of info in this forum.
By the way, there's no such thing as a dry bilge. We're just spoiled from fiberglass boats. I spend a few weeks this summer on wooden boats, great fun. Especially watching the seams between planks spurting water as we pounded along. Tack, tack, BAIL, tack, BAIL, tack.... Truth is that sailing any small dinghy is much the same, try an FJ or a Finn in a good breeze!
Tom