[C320-list] mysterious full bilge

[Orlando.Duran at AveryDennison.com]

I've seen the weather reports recently, there's no need for you Nor'
Easterners to winterize this year! :)

OD


                                                                          
             "Jeffrey Hare"                                               
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                                      Re: [C320-list] mysterious full     
             01/04/2007 01:49         bilge                               
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Oh, forgot to say It's perfectly fine to use either the manual or electric
bilge pumps while on land.  Just might want to raise up the starboard aft
corner of your cover a bit to keep from pumping water onto the canvas
cover.

As my last act of winterizing, after flushing out the bilges with a garden
hose, is to pour my left over antifreeze in the bilge and run a bit
through
each pump.  I also pump a gallon through the head.  Really makes the head
pump nicely in the spring.

-Jeff


-----Original Message-----
From: Susan Rasco [mailto:Moondancer5 at comcast.net]
Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2007 4:19 PM
To: c320-list at catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] mysterious full bilge

Hi, I was wondering if anyone might have an idea what's going on here.

I would have liked to do the winterizing of our new 320 ourselves so we'd
learn the procedures (first cruising boat), but with our schedules and the
marina's, we couldn't do it and let them handle it.
They hauled it mid-October and we looked over the boat a couple of times
in
October and November. The new canvas winter cover was put on by the maker
in
early November, and when checking over the boat that time we noticed a bit
of dampness on the door to the forward berth and the pillows in spite a
couple of containers of calcium chloride in the galley sink and head sink
(everything is tipped up and has air circulation underneath). Due to the
holidays and stomach viruses (oy), we didn't get back to check on things
till yesterday. When my husband checked the bilge there was water up to
the
floor boards.

We borrowed a hand pump from the marina owner, who (strangely, Frank
thought) didn't seem surprised there was a lot of water in the bilge.
(Aside: is it okay to use the manual built-in pump when the boat's on the
hard?) Frank emptied about 9 galley pails of grayish water, we're figuring
about 20-25 gallons. The water was a little sudsy-looking after being
pumped, can't tell if that was due to the borrowed hand pump and whatever
it
was used on last. I called our salesman and asked if he had any ideas on
where so much water could come from. He was baffled and asked if the hot
water heater had been emptied. Well, we hadn't, and the marina owner was
gone, and we checked all around the boat for signs of leakage. The only
dampness other than a little again by the forward berth's door (I've added
a
couple more of the moisture tubs) we only found was that the anchor locker
was wet, and the rode was soaked. The drain was not clogged, and there was
a
bit of water in the hull fitting. The only part of the boat that the cover
doesn't cover is the anchor and roller, and even if any rain got in that
way, I can't see where it would enter the boat, the hatches are all snugly
closed and I don't see any evidence of leaks or cracks anywhere.

I'll mention here that the boat is in NJ, it's been warm with some good
rain
here and there the past month, and that although we thought we'd shut all
the interior lights off last time we did find a light switched on over the
fridge when we plugged in the power. Does it seem likely to more
experienced
owners that the marina personnel emptied the hot water heater 'after'
winterizing, or is it possible that that much water could have seeped in
somewhere from a rain in about 6 weeks time? I don't like to be suspicious
of the marina but I do tend to feel insecure being a new boat owner, not
experienced with the engine/plumbing/electrical systems yet (Frank too),
and
tending to occasionally get flip answers from the owner, (one of whose
assistants already broke and will replace the pop-out hatch latch in the
rear cabin, by the floor in back of the head sink while doing the
winterizing). And yes, okay, being a, what's that evil word ...
woman  ; )

I have to say I wish that Catalina would do a dvd of rigging and systems
maintenance. It would be a lot easier to watch someone go through it a few
times on video, regardless of the manual. I do know that we'll do it
ourselves next fall, even if I have to kidnap a dealer person for the day
to
lead us through it.

Thanks for plowing through my endless email....

Susan






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