[C320-list] mysterious full bilge

[Allan Field]

Susan - Jeff covered a lot of ground in his e-mail so I will try not to
repeat.  I would suggest that you check the anchor well drain.  At the
bottom of the well, there is a drain hole that connects to a hose.  The hose
runs to an open hole in the hull.  It is possible that this hose worked
itself loose from the drain plug and rain water, instead of draining
overboard, is draining into the boat.  The only way to get to the drain hose
is by removing the shelf and forward wood trim in the V-berth.

The same set-up occurs in the cockpit.  There are 2 cockpit drains that have
hoses attached to overboard drains.  These also could have worked loose.
Fortunately, these are easy to inspect.

Check the emergency tiller cover plate and ring.  This is an ongoing source
of leaks until properly caulked.

Another possibility is that the Marina drained the water tanks into the
bilge and then forgot to drain the bilge.  If this is so, you can bet that
they also forgot to winterize the electric and manual bilge pumps.  On my
old boat, I used to drain the tanks into the bilge.

Where are the batteries?  Did they leave them on board?  If so, why didn't
the bilge pump work?  This is a good news-bad news story.  The good news is
that for whatever reason, the bilge pump did not drain the bilge which is
the only reason you know you have a leak problem.  The bad news is that
either the electric bilge pump is not working or the batteries are dead.
Either one of these needs to be fixed ASAP before the boat sinks on the
hard.

If nothing else works, you probably need to be on board during a heavy rain
and try to see where water is coming in then.  Our Marina has freeze-free
water faucets that are on all winter so if you have this set-up, you don't
have to wait for rain.  Just run water at the obvious places and see from
down below if you see any water coming in.

Hope this helps.

Allan S. Field
Sea Shadow - #808
Columbia, MD

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Susan Rasco
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