[C320-list] Hi all - question about water in the bilge

[Jeff Hare]

Hi David, 

A former owner (maybe the original owner?) of your boat #118 was Jerry Mickelson.  He was a fairly active C320 association member and commented occasionally about projects he was doing to the boat/problems he was having. We met him out at the annual regatta in Coronado (I think) hosted by Dick Walker, seems like a hundred years ago. LOL!

If you search the discussion list for his last name, you might see some notes about things he had issues with on your boat.  Not sure. There may have been a previous or more recent owner but they didn't seem to be active in the association, not positive about that either.

Note: https://groups.google.com/g/c320-list   (Currently you can only search and browse these discussions as they are just a copy of what you see on the email list but we're about to change that!)

One thing to note is that your hull has what we refer to as the "shallow bilge". Early hulls had a different grid liner with a shallower bilge and needed more attention to keep the boat dry. 

Jerry almost certainly made the drainage modification to the grid liner that Catalina recommended way back then.  If not, it's worth investigating.  I think (not sure) that the issue was that water could collect in areas of the grid that wouldn't naturally drain back easily into the bilge. If any of those holes got clogged over the years, then maybe this could account for some apparent water weeping back into the bilge over time.  That change documentation is on the https://c320.org website.  https://c320.org/filemgmt/visit.php?lid=63  (Search for "Grid Liner" in case this link no longer works).

Cheers!

Jeff Hare
Former Webmaster 2003-2021
Formerly 2001 C320 #809
Currently 2011 C355 #17 (Thanks Jon!!)




-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> On Behalf Of David Wellerstein
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2022 4:58 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Hi all - question about water in the bilge

Ha yes, we broke a Forespar seacock under the galley sink one night as we were leaving the boat.  I’ve never had water come onto a boat like that.  After freaking out a bit and getting the handle back in enough to close the valve about 90%,  we had a diver come out to plug it up until we could haul and replace with a new (non-plastic) one.  Big difference.  Had several other things done at the same time including the head system.  The thru hulls/seacocks were all checked and I can find no evidence of water intrusion.  But I’ll keep checking.  

I do have two open holes between the bilge pump area and the space right behind it (under the ladder).  That seems to be where the water comes in.  We haven’t been out in a blow yet so haven’t had her heeled over well so I’m not sure what that will bring!  

I’ll keep checking (and sailing!).

Thank you all so much for your responses.  It makes us feel much less alone out there!!  :)

—David

> On Jan 13, 2022, at 1:50 PM, Mark Hood <mark at hoodcanvas.com> wrote:
> 
> With an older Catalina 320 it could be many things. Check the 
> seacocks, the seals could of deteriorated and might need to be 
> replaced or just tighten the four screws, they might be loose. Check 
> hoses for cracks or  possibly just loose hose clamps. We broke the 
> handle on a seacock this summer and water poured in requiring a short 
> haul to fix. Mark Hood
> 
> 
> On Thu, Jan 13, 2022 at 4:42 PM Ken McCrimmon 
> <kenmccrimmon at hotmail.com>
> wrote:
> 
>> Welcome to the group.  This is a great place to get information.  
>> Anything you experience, somebody has dealt with it before, usually 
>> multiple people ________________________________
>> From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> on behalf 
>> of David Wellerstein <dwellers at mac.com>
>> Sent: January 13, 2022 3:43 PM
>> To: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com <c320-list at lists.catalina320.com>
>> Subject: [C320-list] Hi all - question about water in the bilge
>> 
>> Hi there,
>> 
>> I am not sure if this is going out and to whom, but I thought I would 
>> give it a go.  I am a member of the 320 association.
>> 
>> We recently purchased a ’94 C320, hull number 118, and after a lot of 
>> updating to the Perkins diesel, batteries and many other things, we 
>> are ready to sail here in the SF Bay!
>> 
>> The current annoying issue is water in the bilge that seems to be 
>> coming from the area under the sole immediately behind the section of 
>> the bilge with the pump.  I’ve removed the sole (the dining table 
>> included) piece that reveals that section of the bilge.  I can post a 
>> picture but there’s a hole that leads to the pump area.  The water 
>> seems to be seawater but I can not figure where it’s coming from.  We 
>> recently replaced the dripless and had all the thru-hulls checked at a recent haul out.
>> 
>> I’ve vacuumed out all the water but it returns.
>> 
>> If this is the right place to send questions, I’m sure I will have 
>> others.  We are really excited to get going and love the boat so far.
>> 
>> Thank you!
>> 
>> —David
>> 
>> David Wellerstein | dwellers at mac.com | 925.301.6581 (m)
>> 
>>