[C320-list] Water in bilge issue: 1995 Catalina 320

[Clay Carter]

Hi Mark:
Thank you very much for responding.  I will look for the past post--as an FYI I need to go down to the boat to study on this, but I spoke to Catalina technical support about this yesterday.  He told me that the bilge "pan" (as I am calling it) is the very bottom of the interior of the boat, and there is no more space or compartments below it.  Do those holes might allow water to get into the areas adjacent to the bilge (compartments, settee, etc.) but cannot get under it.  I will study on this this weekend--your input about the trash can hole is really helpful.  Please let me know if you have anymore thoughts and thanks again.
Clay CarterLong Beach, CA#225 
“Be kind,for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” ~Plato



      From: Mark Seyler <mseyler at cox.net>
 To: C320-List at Catalina320.com 
 Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2019 4:48 PM
 Subject: Re: [C320-list] Water in bilge issue: 1995 Catalina 320
   
I have a 1995 with the shallow bilge pan, and water can definitely get underneath the bilge pan.  When I first bought the boat, the raw water pump had leaked pretty badly, and I had to pump several gallons of water out from under the bilge pan.  I did it by putting a hose through the hole in the floor of the cabinet under the sink, where the trash can fits, sliding the hose to the center of the boat, and pumping water out with a manual pump.  I think some folks have said that you can access another opening under the cabin sole that is already close to the center of the boat, but I didn't pull my floor boards up.

I also recall a thread from a few years ago talking about which of those 3/4 inch or 1 inch holes should be plugged to prevent water from spilling under the shallow bilge pan.  I can't find that thread at the moment, but if you search prior posts you might find it.

Mark Seyler
S/V Reality, 
Catalina 320, #232
New Orleans, LA



-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Clay Carter
Sent: Wednesday, April 17, 2019 6:54 PM
To: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] Water in bilge issue: 1995 Catalina 320

Just purchased a used 1995 in what appears to be in good condition.  Before purchase, owner disclosed that the fiberglass aqua muffler had once failed filling the shallow bilge and cabin sole with water.  I found the sole screws removed and pulled up for inspection.  All of the compartments of the bilge still had some water, as well as the settee compartments as well.  The bilge "pan" appears to hold the bulk of any water from the shaft packing gland, but I have noticed this bilge pan also has some 3/4" to 1" holes drilled in it for various wiring, and some holes for unknown purposes.  The water in the bilge pan from the muffler failure clearly also made it into these holes and now is somewhere down below the bilge pan.  I have no idea how much water is down there or how to get it out if it still exists.  Does anybody have experience with this issue?  Should I be concerned?  Thanks for any input.
“Be kind,for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” ~Plato