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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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vernacular question and water removal

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JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/09/2011 : 21:48:06

What are the water-catching areas in the cabin called? Are they part of the bilge? If I use the manual bilge pump that is mounted in the cockpit, will it help me drain the water-catching areas in the cabin? If not, can I "just" use one of those long grey pumps and pump the water into the sink?

- Jim
Formerly of 1984 C25 named Dragon Wing

NOTE: In my case, PLEASE don't confuse stars/number of posts with actual knowledge. On any topic.

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pfduffy
Captain

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USA
317 Posts

Response Posted - 10/10/2011 : 05:30:24

Jim - I assume you are talking about the areas under the removable floor panels along the centerline in the cabin. Those are generally called bilges. Mine stay mainly dry during the season. The exception this year was during the hurricane when the drain to my anchor locker clogged and filled with rain water, some of which ultimately found its way into the bilges under the v-birth and in the cabin.

If yours are filling faster than that, you are going to want to find our why. Common causes are window, and hatch board leaks. Less common but more troubling would be damage to the keel trunk from a keel-fall.

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JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Response Posted - 10/10/2011 : 05:33:51

Thanks Pat! Mine flooded (I think) due to a clogged anchor locker drain. I cleared the clog and cleaned out the locker as best I could. Now I just have to get the water out of the bilges.

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pfduffy
Captain

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USA
317 Posts

Response Posted - 10/10/2011 : 06:08:26

I use a sponge and a bucket to get the small amount of water that may collect in there.

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 10/10/2011 : 07:19:26

Yes, the pump in the cockpit will clear most of the water from your bilge. You will have to use a sponge or rag to get the small amount remaining.

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JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Response Posted - 10/10/2011 : 07:50:47

Thanks guys. I'll get down there this weekend and try to dry her out. While not overflowing, the bilges are full, so a sponge might take a long time. If the manual bilge pump doesn't work (I've been reading about the dry rot issues), I guess I can use a hand-held pump and just pump the water into a bucket and dump it. I had left my bucket at home (along with all the tools) yesterday, so the thought of using the bucket never occurred to me!

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pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 10/10/2011 : 08:05:07

A Catalina 25 should be bone dry. The anchor locker drain is a problem but that water usually stays under the v-berth. The cockpit scuppers also leak after a while and need to be recaulked, is there a stain over the center of the quarter berth?... scupper leak.

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JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Response Posted - 10/10/2011 : 08:12:14

Frank,

I didn't see any stains. The V-berth bilge was full, too. I think it overflowed into the cabin. I am now wondering if that is why the seller was willing to let her go - he couldn't find the source of the leak.

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 10/10/2011 : 08:17:27

Use a manual or small electric pump (the kind with garden hose connections) into a 5 gallon bucket and empty into the cockpit. The electric ones can be house current or 12 volt, your choice. For the residual amounts, I like to use a small wet/dry vac.

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JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Response Posted - 10/10/2011 : 08:21:26

Thanks David, that's a good idea. I have a small wet/dry vac. I will have to see what the marina does for power when you are out of the water.

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pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 10/10/2011 : 18:21:31

Leon Sisson posted a 1" upgrade to the ancho locker which worked wonders on my '82. My implementation was of course nothing like Leon's but it sure worked.

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JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Response Posted - 10/10/2011 : 18:27:33

That's an interesting idea, Frank! Is that copper?

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5416 Posts

Response Posted - 10/10/2011 : 22:34:42

My windows (portlights) leak a little, and the water collects in the bilge. After a big rainstorm, I can see where the water leaks in.
I use a grey hand pump to empty the bilge on both the fore and aft ends. With the dinette layout, I can access both ends by removing the seat cushions and access panels.
I never get enough water to use the built-in bilge pump (I'm not even sure whether it still works), and can sponge it dry once I pump it out.
The scuppers don't leak any more (I sealed the tubes).

Edited by - on

JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Response Posted - 10/11/2011 : 06:12:15

Thanks Bruce! Well, it's supposed to rain tomorrow and Thursday, so I guess I'll get to see how well my clean-up did!

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pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 10/11/2011 : 08:27:59

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by JimGo
 That's an interesting idea, Frank! Is that copper?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

A 1" brass nipple from Home Depot.

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 10/11/2011 : 13:44:55

Our bilge is also usually dry. We fill it every spring and run the pump in the cockpit just to be sure the pump is still working OK. Consider this an opportunity Jim, you don't have to fill the bilge to test your pump!

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jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 10/11/2011 : 18:38:35

I prefer to call it the basin...

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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 10/12/2011 : 07:54:27

Jim,
Your boat is about 27 years old. Mine is about 33 years old. I have regularly found leaks through the deck in various places.

Just yesterday I finished re-bedding the lifeline stanchions around the deck with polysulfide rubber Life-Calk sealant from West Marine.

Hurricane Irene's rain, then tropical storm Lee's rain, then 3 weeks of even more rain showed me that I had some leaks that I had not appreciated before. Not surprisingly, the previous caulking under each of the stanchion bases was essentially gone, and heavy rain flooding across the deck could drip through each of the many dozen bolt holes right into the cabin and eventually down into the bilge or the V-berth "hold". Light rain seemed to not be a problem.

Re-bedding the stanchions was a 2-person job - One on deck holding the bolt head steady and one in the cabin loosening or tightening the nuts and washers.

Glad I got that job done, finally! ...and thanks to the Admiral for the help.

Edited by - on

JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Response Posted - 10/12/2011 : 08:06:54

John, you're making owning a boat sound like a lot of fun!

Glad you were successful!

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