I have abrass strainer from WM that sucks
water from the bottom of the bilge down to a 1/8 " deep by 10" long wet spot by the mast that I just suck up with a sponge when I leave the boat.I have this flat strainer on the cockpit hand pump. The rule pump I have wont suck the bilge dryer then a1/2 " and most bilge swicthes turn on in two " of water and when the pump turns off you get 1/2 " of hose water runing back in the boat I had a check valve that worked ok but when It sticks closed the pump cant suck the waterout of the boat.I have a electric bilge switch that turns off and on close to the bottom of the bilge putwhen Im sailing I have to hand pump the bilge dry so the Rule pump dose not turn on and off. I have a pump counter that tells you how much the pump turns on and off.I changed my stuffing box stuffing to the green stuff from WM and my bilge has been dry I packed the gland and put the boat in the water and that was it, when I took the boat out I was getting less then 1/4" of water a week in the bilge and that mite of been leaking from some where. before I leave for the week allways check that Im not leaking water from some where in the bilge, close throw hulls ,check packing , and then I leave the cover off the the moter and the bilge so they air dry all week. Maybe In october Its not so hot and the waterstays around longer. By the way a1988 or older C30has wood in the bilge under the keel bolts as a spacer about 3/8" down under the glass and you could make a4" hole there for a small pump with a built in on off switch. drill some small holes and check it out John olson
