All four boats I have owned have had wet bilges. (Your later message thread
suggests that you have a problem, but in general...)

I know of people with dry bilges, and they sponge them out once in a while
after which they stay dry for a long time, even with a slow drip from a
packing gland.

Not so mine. The problem can be several things, but rainwater has been my
big one. I am on a gradual campaign to rebed all sorts of fittings, etc., in
my present boat, but in one of the boats a basic design flaw allowed litres
of rain water to wash into the the bilge from the cockpit, so it was
virtually impossible to keep ahead of. (Bilge water stayed quite fresh, as
long it rained once in a while!) It made the bilges very humid, of course,
but much improved once I recognized it and added extra ventilation (very
small, very simple, dried the bulkheads right out).

The important thing is that a boat isn't leaking from below. Unless it's
wood, in which case it might have to swell up a bit after being launched,
but basically, a leak below or near the wateline isn't going to get better.
That has to be found and fixed.

My boat stays bone dry until it rains, and then emptying the bilges is a
long, dirty job that only lasts until the next rain - so I don't.

====

Charles T. Low
- remove "UN"
www.boatdocking.com/BDPhoto.html - Photo Contest
www.boatdocking.com
www.ctlow.ca/Trojan26 - my boat

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"Ernie" wrote in message
news
A few days ago I posted a message regarding water in my bilge's new 2003
Trophy and all who responded were unanimous in agreeing that was not
normal
and should be traced to the source so it could be remedied. Here is what
Ken Naff, the Regional Service Manager for Trophy boats said and I quote:

"With regard to water in the bilge, it is not uncommon and there will
likely
be some residual such as you experience. If the water is in sufficient
quantity the bilge pump will pump it out. Please be advised when the pump
shuts off any water left in the hose runs back into the bilge."

How many of you agree with this explanation?