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

[Larry Frank]

Sean,

As a matter of fact I have #246.

I would call the bilge water issue a hassle, but as others have pointed out
if you find an early model that you like and that fits your budget I
wouldn't eliminate it from consideration because of the bilge.  

There is a not too obvious advantage to the shallow bilge.  Because you will
want to keep all water out you are very aware of any water leaks that may
occur.  With a deeper bilge and automatic bilge pump if you routinely have
some water in the bilge, like from a stuffing box, than an additional leak
will go undetected.

With the shallow bilge if you do get water in the bilge it can get into the
storage compartments under the settees when you heel and get stuff stored
there wet.

If I had to do it again I would probably would buy one with the deep keel
but I didn't have that choice in 1995.

Larry
WindSwept C320 #246

-----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 3:20 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