[C320-list] Shallow Bilge '94 C320

[Larry Frank]

I would be concerned if it ever did get wet it would hold the water and
possibly make a moldy mess.

On 11/12/14, 11:33 AM, "Elizabeth Schwartz" <schwartz781 at optonline.net>
wrote:

>AHOY ALL,....My sub bilge has fore and aft dividers in them, with holes
>drilled as prescribed to drain water. I am considering filling the
>outboard compartments, except the one below the table pedestal with
>expanding foam, then covering that all with a layer of fiberglass. These
>compartments on mine seem to have no purpose. Would there be any
>negative consequences to this? Joe n Beth.....#245
>
>
>On Wed, Nov 12, 2014 at 09:14 AM, Larry Frank wrote:
>
>> Aah, the leaking muffler shallow bilge problem.  I have had this occur
>> on
>> WindSwept (Hull 246, 1995) about three or four times since I purchased
>> her
>> in 1995.  I have also had water in the undrainable part of the bilge
>> for
>> other reasons including pressure water plumbing leaks and air
>> conditioner
>> condensation drains plugging up.  The bottom line is the only way to
>> prevent this problem is to keep water out of the bilge in the first
>> place.
>>
>> If you haven¹t ordered your new muffler do it now.  This summer I was
>> quoted 2-12 weeks for a replacement and it darn near took 12.  Luckily
>> I
>> was able to get a temporary repair done to the leaking muffler.
>>
>> When I do get water into the sub-bilge as I call it when I am not
>> using
>> words unfit for print I use a wet vac with a specially fitted hose to
>> vacuum the water out from under the bilge floor.  The hose is inserted
>> through the holes Catalina recommends drilling.  Even with these holes
>> the
>> water will not drain into the bilge pump compartment until the level
>> rises
>> a few inches and certainly not while the boat is heeled over sailing.
>>
>> I do not agree that it is a good idea to block off the limber holes
>> that
>> run fore and aft through the floors (aka the hollow beams that run
>> athwart
>> ships under the cockpit sole.  I want my bilge pump to have access to
>> any
>> water that happens to get below the cabin sole for whatever reason.
>> After
>> all not being able to pump out all the water that accumulates is the
>> problem in the first place.
>>
>> Larry
>>
>>
>>
>> On 11/5/14, 9:32 AM, "WINDER & KIRONDE"  wrote:
>>
>>> I have a leaking aqua muffler box that will get replaced this winter
>>> but it has been sending sea water to the bilge.   Because of the very
>>> shallow bilge in the early Catalina 320's all of the bilge spaces
>>> between the hollow beams fill up before the float switch triggers the
>>> pump.  And because holes have been drilled in the beams for wiring
>>> all
>>> of the beams fill up water as well.
>>> I do not know what Catalina was thinking when they designed this
>>> boat.
>>> Has anyone investigated the possibility of grinding down a 6" X 6"
>>> area on the centerline of the boat to a depth of about an inch where
>>> the bilge pump could be located, creating a low point where water
>>> could collect water and pump it out before all the other compartments
>>> filled with water?
>>>
>>> Bill Winder
>>> INDIGO #97
>>> Winthrop MA
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>