*&%&$#ing Leak!

[bacampbe]

This is probably a really dumb question given the lengths you have gone to to investigate the leak--but do you have an air conditioner?

I had unexplained bilge water in my Bene 31, which turned out to be overflow condensation from the AC drip pan. They had installed a "safety" hose that drained to the bilge from the drip pan at the same level as the main hose that pumped condensation overboard. Since that served no purpose that either I or my dealer could imagine (an overflowing drip pan would also go into the bilge), we plugged it. Dry bilge ever since.

[POLKA247]

If condensation isn't the culprit perhaps...
We tracked a leak to the propellor strut on an Ericson 35. We had to cut in a new access through the cabin sole to reach the bolts. It was a pain in the arsh to track down. Mirrors lights and some very uncomfortable positions later we found it. Good Luck.

[sailordave]

SD: Nope the hoses don't appear to be the problem.

No a/c on board so THAT isn't the issue.

Top of the keel bolts are visible and there is no weeping there. We plugged up the limber holes and wiped the "box" in the grid dry so as to check that very thing.

[JimMcGee]

What kind of water volume are you getting, how often, under what conditions?

Do you see it more often after rain, hot weather, cold weather?

[Cruisingdad]

Catalinas do have a problem with condensation. If yours did not, I would be shocked.

The port ligths leak (especially the oval ones). When mine leak, they leak behind the strips of wood that catalina runs around them. If you have never rebedded them, they are probably due anyways.

What I have done and would do is to get the bilge totally dry. Then sprinkle some flour around the outside around the bilge. Then grab a waterhose and on the hull and spray all around the hull. Check for leaks. You will see where it is coming in at from the water trail. If the hull (port lights) and deck joint are really tight, move to the stern. Keep spraying and repeat. Then move to midship port and startboard. Then move to the bow. Do the bow last because on that boat everything runs aft. If you complete all that and no leaks, you are down to T-hull fittings and/or condensation/and or water running down the mast. Make sure you have sprinkled flour under the mast where the compression post dumps to make sure you can really rule that out. IN a hard rain, water will run down the wires, esp since 99% of the time, there are no drip loops! Ugh!

You will chekc all your T-hull fittings the same way, flour around them.

Make sure your water tanks and lines are bone dry before doing all this. It is not uncommon for a hose to chafe and leak a bit. We have had a problem with some of our 400's on that.

I owned a 320. Great sailing boats. Nothing like turngin inside your own wake! Hope you get it all figured out soon!!!

Brian

[NCC320]

Originally Posted by sailordave

I was hoping someone w/ a C320 would see this and reply knowing how the liner goes in the boat.

Sailordave:

I have a C320 but have not experienced your problem. In hard blowing rains, I do get some leakage around the overhead hatch in the main cabin, and I'll have to rebed that hatch this spring. If I'm there after the rain, I'll see itdrops on the table or cabin sole. If I'm away, occasionally, when I do come to boat, there will be just a little water in the bilge, which evaporates in a few days.

If you haven't done so already, you might direct this question to the Catalina 320 Internation Association. Lots of C320 owners there. Go to www.catalina320.com, at home page, click on Discussion List and sign in to the discussion group list and ask the question about the leak. You don't have to join the association to take part in the discussion group.

[sailordave]

CD. great idea. I had sorta thought along the same lines about using a watersoluble marker in the hull to do the same thing.

NCC: I'm registered on the 320 site and tried to post something yest. Had some logon issues which hopefully are resolved. Do you know Allan.... from the C320 site? He is 3 boats down from me. We have 4 320's on my dock alone!

[sailingdog]

I'd recommend using talcum powder rather than flour. Flour is edible and will feed mold, rats, cockroaches...and that's a bad thing.

[xort]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

I'd recommend using talcum powder rather than flour. Flour is edible and will feed mold, rats, cockroaches...and that's a bad thing.

That's CD's crew!! Gotta feed the crew.

[Cruisingdad]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

I'd recommend using talcum powder rather than flour. Flour is edible and will feed mold, rats, cockroaches...and that's a bad thing.

I used flour, but you are right, talcom powder is better. Not sure about teh whole cocaroach thing, but I agree with your proposal. We simply used what was on our boat.

Good idea dog.

Brian