[C320-list] Shallow Bilge '94 C320

[sailorlew at aol.com]

What year model was the bilge problem eliminate?
Lew

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Larry Frank <WindSwept at stx.rr.com>
To: C320-List <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Sent: Sat, Nov 15, 2014 8:21 am
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Shallow Bilge '94 C320


I see Pat’s point.  On a boat many things are a compromise.  I guess if
you are considering plugging the hole we are talking about the decision
really depends on where you think water may come from.  Most locations
water will get into and accumulate with this version of a C320 will be aft
of the bilge or below the liner. On WindSwept the only locations forward
of the bilge are the keel bolts and speed and depth transducers.  If one
runs aground or hits something hard enough that a leak could develop the
entire bilge should be inspected visually anyways.

On 11/14/14, 10:33 AM, "pat reynolds" <lorasalum at yahoo.com> wrote:

>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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