[C320-list] mysterious full bilge

[David Cardoza]

Like someone else said id check the drain on the anchor locker.  Espically
since you noted it does not get covered by your canvas cover.  Its hard to
get to so quick test put a gallon or so of water in the locker and make sure
it comes out the drain on the bow.  And that you don't have fresh flow in
the forward bildge (look where the transducer goes).  On the bright side if
this is the case and the boat is new it means Catalina made a mistake and
you should have recourse.  Otherwise it does not take much of a freeze for
ice to form and split a line and your back to suspecting that the boat was
not winterized completely 20 gallons is a big oversight. Check the valves
from the tank if one is on and the other is off.  I'll bet the yard boys
missed emptying that one.  And it did get cold enough to freeze a small line
in late November up here near Cape Cod and your weather while a little
warmer is not that different.  

-----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