[C320-list] Water in the Bilge

[Joe Luciano]

I typically have a dry bilge on my 320, but I don’t think it’s likely that the mast wiring is bringing it in unless you see moisture right where the wiring comes in from above the deck.  I’ve seen water get to the bilge from strange places on boats that I have owned.  One method I’ve used to see where the water is coming from is to take pieces of paper towel and place them in areas above the low point in the bilge to get an idea of the direction the water is coming from.  Then I try to trace it back to the source.  You could have a leak through a stanchion connection to the deck, window, the chain plate areas, or elsewhere from plumbing.  These can be very difficult to pinpoint with relatively small amounts of water.  The other method when all else fails involves pressurizing the cabin slightly with air pressure and soaping various connections to look for bubbles on the outside of the deck.  I’ve seen that done in a boat yard, but have never had to do it myself.  Best of Luck!

Joe Luciano
Second Wind
2005 Catalina 320
Anacortes, WA
   
> On Jan 24, 2019, at 3:14 PM, Bob Hoyt <rehoyt at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> I don’t see any after a rain storm but want to hear from others
> Bob Hoyt
> Ikigai
> #58
> Pensacola Fl
> 
> On Thu, Jan 24, 2019 at 4:43 PM 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
>> 
>> --
> 
> *Robert (Bob) Hoyt MD FACP*
> 
> *CAPT (Ret) USN*
> 
> *Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Internal Medicine*
> 
> *Virginia Commonwealth University*
> 
> *Richmond, VA*
> 
> *---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*
> 
> *Adjunct Associate Professor, College of Allied Health Professions*
> 
> *University of Nebraska Medical Center*
> 
> *Omaha, NE*
> 
> *Diplomate, Clinical Informatics*
> 
> InformaticsEducation.org  <http://InformaticsEducation.org>
> rehoyt at gmail.com
> 
> robert.hoyt at unmc.edu <robert.hoyt at unmd.edu>
> 
> Cell: 850-384-5235