[C320-list] Water in the Bilge

Mon Jan 28 10:02:22 PST 2019

Good Info! I will check that out this weekend.

Thanks Chris 

Michael Leschisin
#995, Wild Blue Yonder
Menominee, MI

> On Jan 28, 2019, at 11:53 AM, Chris Burti <clburti at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Michael,
> Water coming in from the mast most frequently results from the drains in
> the mast step becoming clogged by dirt and spider webs, allowing the water
> that naturally comes in the mast to rise over that stand pipe. Cleaning the
> half dozen or so slots around the base will likely resolve your problem.
> Routine flushing with a hose avoids the problem.
> 
> We had a tech article in Mainsheet on the mast base a couple of years ago
> (Dave?)
> 
> Chris Burti
> Commitment. #867
> Farmville, NC
> 
> 
> 
> On Mon, Jan 28, 2019 at 10:11 AM Michael Leschisin <
> mleschisin at imagestudios.com> wrote:
> 
>> Hey Guy,
>> 
>> Thanks for all the info regarding water in the bilge.
>> 
>> Just as a follow up to last week in case anyone is experiencing similar
>> issues….I called Catalina technical services last week and their answer to
>> my question about water entering the bilge through the mast base was that
>> yes, there is a opening where the mast wiring enters the cabin top/mast
>> base and runs through the compression post and into the bilge.  They also
>> said there is a two inch standpipe inside the mast on top of this hole to
>> deter water from entering and that many dealers, when setting up the boat,
>> will fill this with silicon to close it off.  Apparently mine didn’t, so
>> I’ll check that out next time I unstep the mast.  Does anyone presently
>> have their mast unstepped and are able to confirm this arraignment?
>> 
>> My guess is that I have water entering via the halyard openings as it runs
>> down the mast, since I had ice blocked up primarily in the front of the
>> bilge.  I dug out about a gallon and a half of slushy somewhat diluted
>> antifreeze from bilge in minus 10 degree weather this weekend and replaced
>> it with fresh minus one hundred.  We’re headed for a low of -23 with a 50
>> below windchill Wednesday night and then 38 degrees and a chance of rain
>> again on Sunday!  Guess I’ll see how many holes in the mast I can stop up
>> on Saturday.
>> 
>> 
>> Michael
>> 
>> Michael Leschisin
>> #995, Wild Blue Yonder
>> Menominee, MI
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>> On Jan 25, 2019, at 10:49 AM, Gerald Rouillard <pearson39b at yahoo.com>
>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Mike,
>>> After I replaced all my leaking portlights, I was able to dry out my
>> bilge and get it painted.  That helped me find what was still leaking, and
>> I've pretty much pinned it down to the starboard stanchion that serves as
>> the forward gate-post for the cockpit.  Not a big leak, and it only shows
>> up after a heavy rain - or wash job - so I know it's not below the
>> waterline.
>>> 
>>> Interesting how long it took for me to realize my old standard, the salt
>> water "taste test" didn't have any relevance for a boat sitting in fresh
>> water!
>>> 
>>> Sailor Jerry,
>>> Wind Song, #283
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPad
>>> 
>>>> On Jan 24, 2019, at 3:29 PM, Joe Luciano <jnluciano at comcast.net> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> 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
>>>> 
>>> 
>> 
>> 