[C320-list] Water under holding tank

[Bob Borelli]

I have the Catalina Yachts drawing of the 'Structural Grid Drain Hole Locations' (Hull 355 and under) down loaded from C320-List website.

Hull 209 has had the 3/4" drain holes added in the grid or I call the 'upper' bilge where 'green' Comet powder indicated no leaks from the visible keel bolts.

Hull 209 has the PVC tube from the packing gland bilge running under the engine compartment & galley sole to the 'upper' bilge by the pump.
I used a blue food color water mix to verify this PVC tube drains to the 'upper' bilge.  As does the Cold Machine drain.

The blue water mix poured into the packing gland bilge will drain into the 'lower' bilge (under galley cabinets & holding tank) thru holes for the aft water tank supply tube to the galley.  I caulked these holes.

The 3/4" drain hole in the grid will allow water that builds up in the 'lower' bilge (under cabinets & holding tank) if it gets high enough, will drain into the 'upper' bilge by the pump.  Add a second pump in the lower bilge because of the electrical wires there?  No I located the leak (15mm water supply fitting) and monitor the area thru a cut out in the cabinet bottom (remove lower drawer, insert flashlight & hand pump suction hose).

Inspection Hole under the Galley Sole?  I did not want to lift the vinyl floor covering that is well adhered & edges caulked nicely.

Bob 1995 C320 no. 209   Sailing Asscociates Inc. MD

________________________________
From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> on behalf of Larry Frank <WindSwept at stx.rr.com>
Sent: Monday, August 24, 2020 4:22 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Water under holding tank

On hull 246 there is a tube that extends under the engine pan that carries water from the prop shaft alley to the proper bilge.  I would not call it a hose.  I have a PSS dripless shaft seal so normally there is no water from that source.  When I clean the engine raw water or A/C strainer I do get water flowing through the tube and it does not go into the improper bilge area.

Larry
WindSwept C320 #246

On 8/24/20, 1:33 PM, "C320-list on behalf of Dave Hupe" <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com on behalf of hoopdtwo at yahoo.com> wrote:

     There is a 1996 drawing from Catalina with recommendations for hulls #355 and older about adding 9 drain holes so water can be drained from within the structural liner into the bilge areas (shallow bilge on the older boats).
    I just noticed their note #3 on the last page specifically talking about water below the sink or waste tank.  There is supposed to be a hose capturing water that might seep out of the packing gland to route it beneath the engine pan and empty it directly into the bilge.  My boat #32 does NOT have a hose. Instead, any water that builds up near my packing gland eventually can build up to the point where the water enters a hole just aft of the engine pan (this is where the hose should start).  That water on my boat can then just get into the structural grid.  When I first bought our boat and replaced the packing gland I had a  bunch of water seepage that really flooded my structural grid. .... I thought the keel bolts were leaking (NOT).
    I have meant to try to install the missing hose and seal it at both ends where it enters the aft hole and the bilge exit point so that it gets directly to the bilge. I have not done this because my packing gland dripping is so small now that I just keep a sponge laying in the low point under the drive shaft and squeeze it out frequently.
    So ...... if any of you have water accumulating below the sink or waste storage tank, do you have a hose under the engine pan sealed like it should be to direct water to the bilge?  If not, how much does your packing gland leak?  Maybe this is part of your problem, along with water leakage from things like the emergency tiller port that also can feed water to the structural grid (and maybe show up under your waste tank).  Make sure too that your propane tank "pan" is not leaking.  In a rain, stick your head down into the port side aft locker and watch for water dripping around the propane tank area.  Leakage from both the emergency tiller port and propane tank pan were huge sources of water problems on my boat when I bought her ...... each were very east to fix.
    Dave Hupe
    1994 C320 #32 "Mayan Sun"
    Holland, MI