[C320-list] Shallow Bilge '94 C320

[pat reynolds]

I agree with Larry in all respects but the one about not plugging up the hole in the bilge.  While at anchor at 4 am one trip my bilge pump went off.  Since this very rarely occurred ( I had one of those leaky mufflers that day) I got up and found the entire sub floor full of water.  I was not happy about hand pumping at that time of the morning.  If you plug the bilge area the pump should go off earlier.  Even if you do on my boat #249 the water will flow over the partitions any way when it gets high enough.  The good thing about not plugging it is that you can keep a clean area under the floorboards with periodic mopping up. 
 

     On Wednesday, November 12, 2014 8:14 AM, Larry Frank <WindSwept at stx.rr.com> 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" <wcwinder at comcast.net> 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
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