[Dakota773]

Need some help from the Tiara heads:

The mid bilge on my 98 31 open has been wet for a few years (slow drip form my PSS or strainers I believe) and hasn't been much of a problem. It seems though that the mid bilge forward bulkhead has absorbed a good bit of water and rotted internally.  So as a good boater, I'm planning on drilling out the rot and glassing it up (inside and out).  I drilled  a few holes to help the dry out process and was about to mix the resin when I dug around and got totally confused.

The Mid bilge forward bulkhead has a wide lumber hole leading forward to another bulkhead about 1" or 2" behind (forward) of it.  I can't see if this bulkhead is open to the forward bilge (higher) and no light passes through from the forward area, so why is there a lumber hole?  Can I fill it all in and strengthen the whole area?  Am I missing something linking the forward and mid bilge? 

Wanted to ask the group before I started glassing up something that should be open for safety?

Any help or guidance would be appreciated!