[C320-list] Water below engine pan

[Rick Sulewski]

Warren,

I have a 1995 shallow bilge model hull and discovered that there is already
an access port to access water under the liner when I removed the longer
sections of the cabin sole. To avoid having to remove the entire cabin sole,
I simple made two simple cuts at the aft end of the cabin sole to gain
access to the inspection port that exists just ahead of the grey galley
floor covering. If you remove the cabin sole you will see the inspection
port that permits access to the bottom of the hull below the liner and then
realize where the cuts need to take place. I secured the two smaller
sections of the cabin sole with ss screws and can quickly remove those
pieces in the event I need to inspect or remove water with the wet vac.
Often I leave the small sections of the cabin sole loose so I can instantly
remove them which is not all that necessary since I routinely remove water
from the bilge and AC pan whenever I expect to sail in higher wind (heeling)
conditions. Long ago I also plugged the bilge sections forward of the bilge
pump area to reduce the total amount of water (volume) trapped in the longer
bilge sections that have remained dry and consequently reduced the amount of
water that leaked into the area below the liner. 

Rick
My-Ria 1995 Hull #277

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Warren Updike
Sent: Saturday, November 24, 2012 9:09 AM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Water below engine pan

Boy, has this been a pain for me with the original (old) bilge design.  I
won't go into detail.  Suffice it to say that various water leaks have found
way to the holding tank area by way of the hull-liner area.  

I finally decided to install an inspection port and am considering where to
locate it.  I don't think the area Jeff is considering is sufficiently large
enough.  I bought a 4" flush inspection port, large enough so I can get my
hand in (why I want to put my hand in I haven't yet figured out.)  The
smallest port I've found is 3".
Right now, my preferred location is in the galley deck under the ladder.
I'm concerned about drilling into the hoses that run under there although
they seem to run to port from the bilge to pass to port of the shaft alley.

I'd love to hear from others who may have installed such an inspection port.

Warren & Pattie Updike
1994 C320 #62 "Warr De Mar"

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Hare [mailto:catalina at thehares.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2012 12:21 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] Water below engine pan

Hi,

We seem to get some water in the bilge area under the engine pan that
doesn't naturally drain into the bilge unless sailing in bumpy seas.  Al
Ahlman put a inspection port below the companionway ladder to allow him to
use a shop vac to drain this.  

I was thinking about putting a flush inspection port in the aft cabin under
the carpet for this purpose, but don't know whether there is enough
clearance between hull and liner to make that location work.

Below the prop shaft, there is a drain hole that allows any water that comes
in from the stuffing box to drain towards the bilge.  I'm thinking about
running a drain tube from this hole directly to the bilge to prevent that
from entering this area that drains poorly.


Any other ideas?

Cheers!
Jeff Hare
2001 #809 Woodbine II