Sand inthe Bilge

[Eric on Selah]

Last year we took our year 2000 380 from Charlotte Harbor Florida down to the Keys and up the east coast to Ft. Pierce. About 500 miles. When we put her on the hard and got ready to go, I cleaned my bilge dry. To my surprise the bilge had a total of about a half cup of sand in it.

This has never happened before. I have a regular packing gland on the shaft and the usual amount of slow dripping from that, otherwsie my bilge would always be dry. Where's that sand coming from?

 

[Bill Roosa]

Did you go ashore?

This is no mystery if you have kids. I found sand in the top part of my helm station. I think it has legs.

Seriously sand is most likely not coming through the prop shaft gland. I suspect feet are the culperate. A cup can get drug aboard pretty easily when you do it one teaspoon at a time.

How long where you there?

 

[seadaddler]

I agree

I have found sand in my bilge at different times,it finds it way there.
I just came down from Ft Pierce around the keys up to Charlotte Harbor but did not stop except for two nights anchoring out over night.
Where did you stop along the way,I hope to make the trip again maybe april or may and want to spend more time and stop over see the sights and snorkel and dive,can you give more info on your trip.
Nick

 

[Eric on Selah]

Feet!

It had to be feet. I just never thought of that.
We were there for 6 weeks, numerous stops, lots of good sailing, plenty of chances for sand to get "legs".
We are looping. We are going bit by bit; work for sailing money, go to the boat and take long trips. Then go home and earn more sailing money. Our trip logs and pictures are on www.selah380.com
Thanks guys!

 

[Benny]

The shower sump pump drains into the bilge. Sand gets in feet and bathing suits and when showering it eventually ends in the bilge.

 

[Ken Honeycutt]

Re: Feet!

Checked out your website. Nice pictures! (I travel a lot to some of the river towns in Iowa and Illinois on business that you stayed). Just curious, did you keep your mast up the whole trip down the Mississippi? Didn't know that would be possible.

 

[Eric on Selah]

Re: Feet!

Yes, our mast stayed up the whole time but we have a shortened mast at 49 feet for our Hunter 380. Based on my experience, the limit would be 52 feet.