[C320-list] Grid liner & bilge design question - newer vs. olderissues

[pat reynolds]

Assuming cost is not an issue, take the later model it has some improvments over the 1994

--- On Sun, 11/15/09, Rick Sulewski <rsulewski at earthlink.net> wrote:

> From: Rick Sulewski <rsulewski at earthlink.net>
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Grid liner & bilge design question - newer vs. olderissues
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Date: Sunday, November 15, 2009, 5:52 AM
> Sean,
> 
> I have hull # 277 since 1995 with a shallow bilge and have
> no problems with
> water since I been using Teflon coated packing material and
> annually add
> Teflon lubricant to the packing nut when I adjust the nut
> to reduce (almost
> totally eliminates) water from entering the bilge. I also
> sealed off the
> other segments of the bilge from gaining access to any
> water from the
> packing nut.
> 
> I understand (but can not confirm) that the earlier hulls
> are faster because
> of the shallow bilges (possibly lower wetted surface?).
> 
> In this economy I would go with the lowest cost per pound
> of any boat that
> you can purchase in good/better condition!
> 
> Rick
> 
> My-Ria #277
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com]
> On Behalf Of Sean Kaldor
> Sent: Sunday, November 15, 2009 4:20 AM
> To: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com
> Subject: [C320-list] Grid liner & bilge design question
> - newer vs.
> olderissues
> 
> I'm choosing between two 320s... a 1994 vintage and a 1997
> vintage.
>  
> One of the design differences between the two is the grid
> liner and bilge
> set-up. As  I understand from this site, a deeper bilge
> with better weep
> holes to drain the pan was added around hull #246 (late
> 1995). And all hulls
> up to #355 have a technical reference bulletin about the
> need to drill
> access and drain holes throughout the grid liner for
> regular draining to the
> bilge, inspection, etc.
>  
> So my questions are ... are these changes/improvements
> important, or are
> they just footnotes in the design history? If you have an
> earlier design, is
> the grid water draining an issue - did you drill the holes,
> does water
> collect? If you could choose between a pre-246 hull and a
> post 355 hull,
> would this even be a consideration? Is there any long-term
> effect on the
> structural grid members? 
>  
> I'm curious about your experiences and opinions.
>  
> Thanks!
>  
> Sean
> Hull #TBD
> 
>