Anyone with a dry bilge?

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jmcelwee
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Joined: 7/16/12
Posts: 102
Anyone with a dry bilge?

Hi all,

Wondering if anyone out there has actually achieved the mythical 'bone dry' bilge. With the keel-stepped mast on our boat, we take in a lot of rainwater, and always have significant amounts of water in the bilge.

For my most recent bilge clean-out, not only did I have the normal amount of water sloshing around, but I also had what looked like about 1/4 inch of sand/silt/sawdust/something coating the bottom of the bilges (really didn't look like it was anything alive, I did have a good look at it). Not sure what/where this stuff could have come from, assuming all the water coming in is rainwater coming down the mast.

Anyway, my plan at the end of this season is to de-step the mast (to check all my standing rigging, do maintenance, etc.), and am wondering if anyone has any genius fix for the mast to try and prevent water entry. Is there any way to install some kind of gasket or something at deck level, with some weep holes in the mast? Maybe install a nice umbrella at the top of the mast?

Thanks for any thoughts!

Josh McElwee
Sailing from East Greenwich, RI
2000 C36 MKII, M35B, "Chinook", Hull#1900

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gordonm
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Joined: 12/30/10
Posts: 11

Yes- absolutely!

I repaired a few piping water leaks, etc. No water in bilge- bone dry..

I get some moisture during winter rains, that is it.

If your taking in water find you leaks...

gordon
SlemBob #1668
1998 C-36 SR/FK M35BC
San Francisco

sceptre1
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Joined: 8/28/09
Posts: 77

Like Gordon, I have zero plumbing leaks and a bone dry bilge. Only water intrusion can be found after a heavy rain or a long motor sail with a very minimal amount of water from the packing gland.

Tony Cullen
s/v Sceptre
1995 C-36 MkII 1449 TR/FK
San Diego, CA. (Chula Vista Marina)

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Capt. Sam
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Joined: 2/22/10
Posts: 322

You guys obviously don't have air conditioning. Mine has condensers fore and aft that drain to the bilge and keep lots of water (although fresh) in it all summer when I'm aboard at dock.
Plus I get the rain in summer everyday. Don't see a dry bilge in my future.
:(

Capt. Sam Murphy
1994 Catalina 36, Hull 1327
Shoal draft, two cabin model.
Panama City, Florida

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bakerha
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Joined: 7/23/10
Posts: 267

Josh - I am like you with a very damp bilge. I have AC as well to amp up the problem. But - while my mast was down I looked at the masthead as the problem so I sealed up all the top exits as well as I could. But then I noticed this perfect little inverted funnel at the exit for my spinnaker halyard, and I think a lot of water enters there. And with all the wiring that comes down my mast, I can't figure a way to head it off there either. So - now I'm looking for a better way to pump out the bilge to keep it dry as possible. Since you are in NJ - I imagine you get a little rain too:-)

_____________
Harold Baker
S/V Lucky Duck
Duncan Bay Boat Club
Cheboygan Michigan - Lake Huron
1989 C-36 mkI TR/WK M25XP

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mutualfun
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Joined: 6/25/07
Posts: 454

Hi Josh.
From reading your post the sawdust your seeing comes from the construction process I do belive. If you take a good look in the bildge and under the floor of your boat with a flashlight you will be amazed at all the sawdust. Even pulling out your drawers I bet you find some. I spent a lot of time with a small shop vac and some extensions getting what I could out of ours. Also I see you asked about a dry bildge. I see some say they have that but when it rains they get water still. To me a dry bildge means just that. No water hard in no matter how hard it rains. I have yet to see it happen. It would be nice if one can say theirs is 100 % dry all the time how they have achieved that goal of water intrusion from the mast. There has been much discussion on this here if you do a search and I do not belive it has been solved 100%.

Randy Sherwood
Mutualfun 1990 # 1057
T/R W/K M35a
Home. Charlotte, Mi.
Boat. St Augustine,Fl.

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ProfDruhot
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Joined: 2/8/09
Posts: 354

I too have water in bilge most of the time as well. It isn't salt water so I know it comes in from either the rain or the AC. It would be interesting to hear who have the in mast main furler (like I do) as compared to those who don't. I just cannot figure out to stop the water coming in from around the furling unit on the main.

Glenn Druhot
Carpe Diem
New Bern, NC
35* 6' 10" N / 77* 2' 30" W
2001 C36, Hull #1965
Std Rig; Wing Keel; M35B

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Capt. Sam
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Joined: 2/22/10
Posts: 322

I don't have in-mast furling but plenty of rain comes down through openings for halyards I assume. I've been aboard often during rain squalls and watch it come. It's not an overwhelming amount. I think its just something that I have to live with and I've grown comfortable with it. I have bigger fish to fry.

Capt. Sam Murphy
1994 Catalina 36, Hull 1327
Shoal draft, two cabin model.
Panama City, Florida

jmcelwee
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Joined: 7/16/12
Posts: 102

I don't have in-mast furling, and get plenty of water in the bilge. We get lots of rain in the NE. :(

Josh McElwee
Sailing from East Greenwich, RI
2000 C36 MKII, M35B, "Chinook", Hull#1900

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benethridge
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Joined: 5/13/09
Posts: 446

There are some fairly recent threads on this subject:

[url]http://www.c36ia.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2308[/url]

[url]http://www.c36ia.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2247[/url]

[url]http://www.c36ia.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2033&highlight=keel+bolt[/url]

The last thread is the most significant - shows the primary reason we need a dry bilge, due to the stainless steel keel bolts.

Ben Ethridge
Miami, FL
1984 MK1 Hull# 263

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