Bilge water

[rhpurcell]

I just finished my first season as the new owner of the "Wind &
Spirit" in Monroe Harbor, Chicago.

Bilge water, after the bilge pump stops pumping, how deep is the water
in the bilge. Mine is 3 to 4 inches.


Thanks for your help.
Bob Purcell rhpu...@aol.com

[paulmw]

Hey Bob,

I am also a relatively new owner...

With the design of the P323 (encapsulated keel, dry mast), I didn't
see why the bilge couldn't stay dry, and so have been working on
that. I always had a few inches; after emptying the bilge out and
cleaning it a bit with West Marine bilge cleaner, it then refilled.
As the water was clear I tested it - fresh water (I am in SF Bay).
Since then I have found 5 minor problems in the fresh water system - a
couple of slow leaks in the water pressure system, then one of the
vanity sink hoses leaked...still filled up slowly, then I made the
connection - the inspection hatches in the water tanks leaked, so the
water only leaked out when we were heeled and the tanks were full.
Fixed that. So I am going to dry it out again, and see what happens
next - a boring job as the bilge pump takes it down to about 2 inches
(when the pump drains down to 1" and is turned off, the water backed
up in the hose to the venting loop in the engine compartment returns
to refill the bilge), so I sponge the remainder out.

Would be fun to have a generally dry bilge...

[Capt Neil]

Hi Bob, I am new to posting to the P323 group so you may have
received this post already by email. I made up a bracket to hold my
bilge pumps as the way they were mounted when i bought the boat didn't
seem very good.

I prefer not to leave any water in the bilge. I check the bilge when
I get on the boat and when I leave. Some people think it doesn't
mater, but I do. My boat is pretty well sealed, but water still gets
in after a heavy rain, or sometimes through the stuffing box on the
engine shaft (hopefully not anymore as I just replaced my Volvo with a
new Beta 28).

My lower bilge pump takes care of most of any water - say down to less
than an inch. I use the Henderson cockpit pump to get most of any
residual, and then reach down and sponge out any left.

I sent you pictures of my bilge pump assembly before and after
installation - I couldn't figure out how to include them in this post.

Neil
s/v Netanya

> Bob Purcell rhpurc...@aol.com