[C320-list] Water in the Bilge

[pat reynolds]

 With the top sides, ports and cockpit covered that would seem to leave the rub rails as a possible source.  We did a race in heavy weather for 22 hours where the rub rails were constantly being submerged and vacuumed 75 gallons of water out of the interior afterwards.   
    On Thursday, January 24, 2019, 4:43:37 PM CST, Michael Leschisin <mleschisin at imagestudios.com> wrote:  
 
 For anyone who’s willing to provide some feedback, 

I’m wondering how much water is normal to find in the bilge following a good rainstorm.  My wife and I purchased our 320 a little over a year ago and I typically find about a pint or two of water in the bilge after a healthy rainstorm.  I’m guessing this is normal and coming in via the mast and compression post since there seems to be a drain hole in the bilge just under the compression post base near where the mast and radar wiring exits the post.  

Earlier this week I went up to the boat, which is on the hard for the winter, and much to my horror, found about a quart and a half of frozen water in the front of the three bilge compartments. (But only in the forward compartment)  Fortunately, the water floated above the -100 antifreeze I had in the bilge before it froze, so none of the keel bolts or the pump were affected, but scary none the less.  We had a fair amount of rain this fall and even in early January, but this seems like a lot of water, especially for a boat that is under a winter cover with no way for water to hit the decks, cockpit, port lights, hatches, etc.

I’m wondering if this amount is a normal compilation of this season’s rainfall or if I need to trouble shoot some other problem.


Thanks for the help,



Michael Leschisin
#995, Wild Blue Yonder
Menominee, MI