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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Bilge and Bilge Pump

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zviruga
Deckhand

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USA
3 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/28/2003 : 15:09:31

Hi All,

A couple of weeks ago I purchased a 1982 Catalina 25 swing keel. This is my first Catalina. I had a 23 ft Spencer before. I was hoping someone could tell me where the bilge(s) are located, and which bilge does the hand pump in the cockpit empty. How often does water gather in the bilge and what are the most common areas that water will come in from. Any advice will be most appreciated.

Thanks
Mike

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timpky
1st Mate

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USA
41 Posts

Response Posted - 09/28/2003 : 17:15:46

Mike,
Congratulations. I hope you enjoy it. Mine is a 1978 and I don't know if they are the same. Mine is also a swing keel. On my boat, the bilge pump picks up from the port side of the keel. I can see it by either looking in the cabinet door located under the stove, or by an access plate in the floor under the table. I have no access to the bilge on the starboard side and any water that gets in there either weeps to the other side or evaporates. Some people have added an access plate to this side to get at any water that accumulates there. I get very little water in my bilge...I will often just use a sponge to keep it dry. Most of my water comes from either the companion way leaking or other small deck leaks. If you do a search on 'leaks' it will turn up many discussions of where people have found leaks and how they stop them.

Tim Peoples
Sarasota, FL
78 Catalina 25 SK Hull #875

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 09/28/2003 : 17:47:30

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Hi All,
A couple of weeks ago I purchased a 1982 Catalina 25 swing keel. Thanks
Mike
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

I also have an '82 sk. My sole has a long bilge cover to port of the centerline and a short one slightly ahead and to starboard of the centerline. The forward one has two stringers dividing it.
<img src="http://members.cox.net/fhopper/Catalina25/bilge.jpg" border=0>
My bilge pump line lays in the aft section of that starboard bilge area. I did some correcting on the picture but could not get any resolution in that spot, the sunlight was just too bright. That is my transducer that you see. My hull is 2790. I only get water in the bilge when I am over zealous with a hose, I am not sure where it gets in but rain does not get in. I do get water against the v-berth bulkhead, so far never up to the through hull but right there aft of it. I have checked my anchor locker but see no issues. The nice teac door there for the to-hull fitting makes it easy to get with a sponge and pail. We has serious rain a few days ago and it resulted in about two pints of water. I stumbled into my '82 by dumb luck, I think it has some real advantages over the older ones. Good job on finding one. Do you have the rather unusual fabric that I have?

<img src="http://members.cox.net/fhopper/Catalina25/sigbow.jpg" border=0>Frank and Martha in Wichita KS. Lake Cheney

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RoofRoof
Navigator

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USA
186 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2003 : 10:51:58

My 79' SKTR leaks horribly. When we first got the boat, we rebedded everything on the deck. I just ordered the newer updated windows from Cruising Direct, and hope that helps the leaking window problem. Despite that, the electric bilge only works on the port side of the keel, and I have the intake for the manual bilge for the starboard side. No other way I can find to put an electric on the starboard side. When we get on the boat, and walk forward, the electric bilge starts pumping and keeps pumping for I'd say 45 seconds+. Lots of water.

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2003 : 11:50:05

Mike -

Welcome and congratulations on you new purchase. Theoretically, your bilge should remain dry all the time. You haven't gotten the responses yet, but there will be a few people who will tell you that your main concern should be to stop the water coming in, not get a pump. Windows, deck hardware, hatches are the main cause of water entering your boat. All of that having been said, many like to be able to control the water while they begin the laborious process of trying to find where it is entering the boat and correcting the problem.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>and which bilge does the hand pump in the cockpit empty<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>
The one thing you'll find with the group is that over the 20+ years people have owned these boats, different modifications have been made. Our hand pump was on a hose that was not attached. You will find that others will tell you that theirs specifically was in one location and could not be moved. It emptied the area under the quarterberth near the keel cable. Since the end of the hose was not attached.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>How often does water gather in the bilge and what are the most common areas that water will come in from<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Water will gather in the bilge as often as it rains, or as waves wash over your deck or water is present around any area with a leak. There is no tried and true calculation.

Common areas - deck hardware, old windows without the channel sizing. Hatches etc.

[quote}I was hoping someone could tell me where the bilge(s) are located,[/quote]
your bilge runs under the cabin sole, back into the area under the quarterberth, under the galley and via limber holes, under the table as well as the aftermost settees. Basically, it runs under and through everything.

D. Wolff - "The Flying Wasp" #401 sr/sk
Chief Measurer C-25/250 National Assn.
<img src="http://www.flags.com/images/layout/category_images/t_3964.jpg" border=0>

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