[C320-list] mysterious full bilge

[Susan Rasco]

Thanks to everyone (Jeff, Allan, David!) for the very detailed ideas  
of where to check out everything. Ours is a 2006, and yes, they do  
have it blocked a bit up at the bow, although as we pumped out the  
bilge by the pump the water seemed to keep flowing forward from aft  
till it was mostly gone. I don't think they took the paddlewheel out  
when hauling, when I mentioned it they gave me the "we've done this  
before, we won't damage it" routine. The reason we didn't use the  
electric bilge pump is we asked the marina owner and he said don't  
use it on land    : (    and the reason we didn't use the manual  
handle is in our confusion over all that water we forgot we  
could    : O    So we ended up using one of those hand pumps like  
chief Brody.

The boat was hauled in mid-October and we'd checked it twice before  
the water appeared. I can see residue of anti-freeze in the galley  
sink and in the head sink and floor drain, but we'll have to take a  
look at the water tanks. Frank had a thought of pouring water into  
the anchor locker to check it and suggested coloring the water to  
trace it, I'm trying to decide if that would harm anything (the  
coloring, that is. I'm trying to decide what would be benign: kool- 
aid, food dye, diet snapple, blue curacao?). The weather is  
thankfully very warm right now but will cool off during the week so  
I'm going to have to ask the chief to go down and take a look for me  
(after the playoff games ... ), and ask the marina what's up if the  
water tanks were not winterized. Question: should they be filled up  
with anti-freeze? Or is it just 'run through' and the tanks are  
basically empty with residue of the anti-freeze in them? I'm looking  
through the bill for the winterizing, and it lists their having done  
the fresh water cooled engine, fresh water system, head, water  
heater, cockpit shower, & a/c.

Speaking of the batteries, they are in the boat, and we haven't had  
them plugged in except when we've been down to check, how often and  
how long should we plug them in to charge them over the winter? I  
know, I'm just pathetic....

I noticed that Catalina has actually listed the EC Rendezvous for 07  
as in Mystic, CT in August. I wouldn't be able to sail up as it's the  
midst of the truly-horrifying-to-produce VF 100 October issue (don't  
ask... ), but is there possibly going to be a 320 event concurrent w/ 
it? It's only a 3 hour drive from me, always stop there whenever  
dropping off Altair @J&W in Providence. Would love to have the  
opportunity to meet some of this great bunch!

Thank you!

Susan

p.s. I have every intention of bringing up the idea of an owner's  
maintenance dvd w/Gerry Douglas if I see him at the Philly show, if  
there's no blizzard again like 2 years ago.