Cockpit drains

[CCrane2299]

After launching and hauling it back out due to a leaking brass fitting, I've been thinking... I have seen the through transom drains from CD. I don't like them because the cockpit floor drains to the front. Holes in the rear would have to supplement the factory drains. I would like to glass up that hole in the bottom of the boat. My thinking is just pie in the sky right now, but... What if you used standard plumbing stuff and enlarged the drains in the front of the cockpit. Then, elbow them toward the transom with enough slope to drain. Lastly, thru hulls under the cockpit floor but above the water line. It would be easy to go 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 all the way out the back. I suppose standard thru hulls could be rubber hose joined to piping from modified floor drains. I like the plan in my head, but in practice it may not work.

All of the water in my boat since I bought it came from the cockpit drain in the floor leaking rain water in or from the brass tube leaking lake water in.

If you have one of these boats, and you don't know if its been resealed. I'd look at it before my next launch. It is so simple to repair while on the trailer. I was surprised the NOTHING holds it in except some 30 year old sealant. If it were to slide out you'd have a 3/4 in hole in the bottom. I removed the rubber hoses on mine and basically just pulled it up out of the floor.

 

[CaptDon01]

The cockpit floor on the 1st generation C-22 is slopped forward to drain the water. The drainlines plug up quick enough with the factory routing, longer lines would just make the situation possibly worse. The openings in the transom will prevent, (or at least help) keep the cockpit from overflowing into the cabin. These are simple draining devices, and most times, simple is better. I thought the kit CD sells was a bit expensive. I purchased a flairing kit for 1 1/4" tubing from Moeller. I think the tool was about $30. I used it to install a better cockpit drain in a Potter-15 I was refurbishing, and it's basically the same thing we do to improve the cockpit dainage on the 1st generation boats. Worked GREAT, and at a fraction of the price of the CD kit, (and I get to keep the tool).

Don

 

[CCrane2299]

The cockpit floor on the 1st generation C-22 is slopped forward to drain the water. The drainlines plug up quick enough with the factory routing, longer lines would just make the situation possibly worse.

The whole magic was to increase the existing system from the cockpit drains all the way through the hull. Maybe use two bathtub drains in the cockpit that are 1 1/2 inches to 1 1/2 piping (PVC) to the rear of the boat, then two 1 1/2 thru hulls out the back. I suggested using a rubber hose connector to the thru hull to help with expansion/contraction. So, while you would make the lines longer, you'd make them multiples of sizes larger. I don't know about fluids, but when you double a gas orifice you increase its flow rate four times.

 

[Chris Patterson]

You know, I can't think of a single reason why that can't be done. I would try try it, why not.
The fluid rate is about the same as gas, fractionally less..

 

[dgreen1991]

After launching and hauling it back out due to a leaking brass fi 7tting, I've been thinking... I have seen the through transom drains from CD. I don't like them because the cockpit floor drains to the front. Holes in the rear would have to supplement the factory drains. I would like to glass up that hole in the bottom of the boat. My thinking is just pie in the sky right now, but... What if you used standard plumbing stuff and enlarged the drains in the front of the cockpit. Then, elbow them toward the transom with enough slope to drain. Lastly, thru hulls under the cockpit floor but above the water line. It would be easy to go 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 all the way out the back. I suppose standard thru hulls could be rubber hose joined to piping from modified floor drains. I like the plan in my head, but in practice it may not work.

All of the water in my boat since I bought it came from the cockpit drain in the floor leaking rain water in or from the brass tube leaking lake water in.

If you have one of these boats, and you don't know if its been resealed. I'd look at it before my next launch. It is so simple to repair while on the trailer. I was surprised the NOTHING holds it in except some 30 year old sealant. If it were to slide out you'd have a 3/4 in hole in the bottom. I removed the rubber hoses on mine and basically just pulled it up out of the floor.

Just add a couple of 1 and 1/4 inch PVC couplers to the stern. Problem solved. They will handle large amounts, the original will handle small amount left. Water will flow out faster than through a length of hose. KISS works for me every time. I was NOT referring to you as stupid. I am usually over engineering things. I have sailed mine for over 10 years with never any water in the cockpit. Added them this year in case I'm due.

 

[kito]

Just add a couple of 1 and 1/4 inch PVC couplers to the stern. Problem solved. They will handle large amounts, the original will handle small amount left. Water will flow out faster than through a length of hose. KISS works for me every time. I was NOT referring to you as stupid. I am usually over engineering things. I have sailed mine for over 10 years with never any water in the cockpit. Added them this year in case I'm due.

I must be blind in one eye and can't see out of the other, I don't see your cockpit drain tubes coming through the transom in the second picture.

 

[CCrane2299]

My cockpit drains seem to work when clear. The real advantage is plugging that hole in the bottom of my boat. On the MacGregor that I had, I put a kitchen sink strainer upside down over the drain and it much improved the clogging.

 

[dgreen1991]

just Add A Couple Of 1 And 1/4 Inch Pvc Couplers To The Stern. Problem Solved. They Will Handle Large Amounts, The Original Will Handle Small Amount Left. Water Will Flow Out Faster Than Through A Length Of Hose. Kiss Works For Me Every Time. I Was Not Referring To You As Stupid. I Am Usually Over Engineering Things. I Have Sailed Mine For Over 10 Years With Never Any Water In The Cockpit. Added Them This Year In Case I'm Due.

Outside Pic

 

[kito]

Now I can see them. Nice pvc trailer lights too. PVC and duct tape is all a man needs.

 

[Drevi17546]

I understand your desire to glass over that thru hull fitting. It is not a true thru hull like you will see in most larger boats or commercial applications. Like you said the only thing holding it in is 30 something year old epoxy. I am about to undertake the same project of eliminating that fitting, but I will be replacing it with 2 thru hulls on either side of the keel trunk. Seems counter intuitive to replace 1 with 2 but they will be self sufficient, so either 1 can clog, and done with real mechanical thru hull fittings. This is what Tech support at catalina suggested and my local boat yard affirmed. Criss cross the drain lines so you don't get water up the drain when heeled over. I do like your idea a lot. Would be nice to eliminate all underwater thru hull fittings. I just don't know if you would have the slope to run that all the way aft. I feel like those cockpit drains are pretty close to the waterline already.

 

[CCrane2299]

The two drains sounds like a good idea to me. Using true thru hulls would certainly be an improvement. As a matter of fact, if you increased the diameter in the cockpit you would accomplish much of what I want. The floor drains are 3/4 inch outside diameter I think. The inside diameter is about 1/2 inch. Its no wonder things get clogged in there.