37C - Routing of cockpit drain hoses

[FredV]

Can anyone describe how the hoses from the cockpit drains are routed in the aft end? After finally removing the old leaking aluminum fuel tank, then cutting out the wall behind it, I found the mess shown in the attached photo. Since several hoses were cut or broken off, I can’t quite figure out how new hoses should be routed.

Originally, the port cockpit drain emptied through a small (one-inch?) hole on the starboard aft end, while the starboard drain didn’t – I figured it was blocked with something. Now I can see that the starboard drain emptied into the bilge because the hose was cut off! (And I thought all that rainwater was coming from an infinite number of deck leaks!)

From what I can see, the starboard cockpit drain hose goes to a 3-way t-fitting (grey in the middle of the photo) where the 2nd hose seems to be coming from the manual bilge pump (white ribbed hose) and, although it’s cut off, I assume the 3rd hose went to the hole in the port aft end, while the port cockpit drain had just one hose going directly to the starboard hole. Is that correct?

Another question – there is another hole in the starboard side of the aft end just below the cockpit drain hole – is this for the diesel exhaust? It seems almost too small for that, but there is no other hole back there for the exhaust to go!

Can someone please help my rapidly numbing brain and describe all this to me?

Thanks!

 

[Jim Legere]

On my boat there are two outlets on each side, near the stern and just above the waterline. They are not really thru-hulls - just pieces of pipe glassed into the hull. The forward one on the starboard side is a bit larger diameter and is for the engine exhaust. The aft one on the same side is 1.5" OD and connects to the port cockpit drain with a 1.5" ID hose. On the port side, both 'thru hulls' are the same size (1.5" OD). The forward one used to connect to the outlet of the manual bilge pump but on my boat the bilge pump has been re-routed and this one is now blocked off. The aft one connects to the starboard cockpit drain. I have no tees anywhere in the aft end plumbing. I believe the arrangement I described was the original factory set up. I tried routing the drains starboard to starboard and port to port, but that didn't work so well as I often ended up with water in the cockpit when heeled well over. I can take some pictures if my explanation is not clear to you.

Best regards
Jim

 

[Johnb]

I hope the attached picture helps. The cockpit drains cross from port to starboard because otherwise when you are sailing hard water spits up intro the cockpit. I found out because I uncrossed them. It actually amounts to very little and shortens up the lines a whole lot.

As the other picture shows you have to get into this job.

 

[ggrizzard]

Fred, if your 37C is a 1979, the single cockpit drain with a "T" connector is like my 30 from the factory. Hunter used this and the black hose for the cockpit drains. And like mine, the exhaust is the only other opening and it's on the starboard side as well. Please tell me that there is an ugly black hose connected to your muffler ... that is the engine exhaust.

 

[FredV]

It's interesting to discover the differences in the way the 37-C's were built. Not only did my boat (hull #11) have its fuel tank installed center aft instead of under the aft cabin berth, but it also has only 3 outlets in the stern.

->Jim: Thanks, now I get it!

->John: Squeezing all the way back there to install new hoses is going to be challenging to say the least!

->ggrizzard: I bought the boat without an engine, so exhaust hose wasn't there - just the open port stuffed with a rag. I'm getting ready to install a used Universal 5432 engine (32hp) and am still trying to decide whether the existing outlet is big enough.

Thanks to all for the help!

 

[Blaise]

Midnight Sun (hull #42) has the cockpit drain lines crossed under the deck. She also has a seperate line for the marual pump. Even with them crossed you still get a couple of inches of water come up thru them when you are doing more than 8 kts in a rough sea.

 

[FredV]

Yup, I've crossed them.

Can't wait till I do 8 knots, and when I do, I won't care much if some water comes splashing up!

 

[Sailorjack]

Fred

My drains are set up as Jim's are.

I get some water thru the cockpit drains only when I am under power never under sail.

After 10 years I'm still waiting for 8 knots. I've reached 7.3 on GPS and regularly do 7.0. Maybe I can find a big hill to surf down one day.

All the best with the boat.

John

 

[Ed Schenck]

There's another difference that I don't think was in our spreadsheet Jim. My manual pump(1979) is on the port side. My aft hose connections are exactly like yours, with no loops. I made the bulkhead at the rear of the quarterberth easily removable. Can do a lot of work more easily through that access.

 

[FredV]

As long as you're discussing differences, don't forget that the fuel tank on Fred V (hull #11) was located in the center and starboard side just aft of the engine. Another 37-C owner (can't remember who) confirmed this with his boat.

 

[Jim Legere]

These are some of the small changes that are hard to nail down to a specific year. Certainly the differences are worth noting so, until I hear otherwise, I am indicating a diesel tank under the cockpit sole and 3 rather than 4 through hulls at the aft end for the '78 models and some '79 models. Anything else I should know about?

 

[Ed Schenck]

Might be just the '78s Jim.