40.5 Fridge drain access and foam

[baycloud]

Hey all, I have a 93 Legend 40.5. I have read @artboas @Rich Stidger and a few others who have put a drain in - all have mentioned some access plate. I believe my version doesn't have one. I'm thinking to drill an access hole in one of the locations. Thoughts on that? (I'd drill a small hole to gauge distance to the hull first...)

 

[Rich Stidger]

My drain is connected to a hose that passes through the space under the galley sink and into the bilge. I don't remember adding it so it must be OEM. Look under the sink area where the seacock for the sink is located.

 

[baycloud]

ok i see now - it looks like the hose just isnt long enough to poke out into the bilge. I'm trying to install a sump but it seems like it's gonna be very challenging to grab the entire bilge, not just the sink drain

And my second question is has anyone done foam for the fridge, and if so what were your injection points?

 

[Rich Stidger]

I recall either extending the drain hose through the hole into the bilge or just putting the hose through the existing hole to the bilge. Can't help with the foam addition.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Probably stupid question but not my first - why is there a drain hole?

I’ve always plugged it and found doing so kept the refrigerator ‘colder‘. Never had a problem with condensation even if we shut off the compressor as long as the door was open when not in use. And if anything spilled, I’d rather confine the mess there.

 

[Rich Stidger]

We don't spill but often have a bag of ice that slowly melts. I too plug the hole with a cork to retain the cold air, but open it occasionally to drain the water.

 

[artboas]

Hey all, I have a 93 Legend 40.5. I have read @artboas @Rich Stidger and a few others who have put a drain in - all have mentioned some access plate. I believe my version doesn't have one. I'm thinking to drill an access hole in one of the locations. Thoughts on that? (I'd drill a small hole to gauge distance to the hull first...)

Ok,
A couple of things
The drain in the fridge is connected to a hose, which is supposed to easily drain into the bilge.,
Well, on a number of 40.5 boats, Hunter put a loop in it which went upwards before going down again. No reason for it.. they just did it.
If you have this loop, get rid of if (just clipping some cable ties), and turn feed it straight down.
The next thing I’m going to recommend is piping it directly into a small sump box with pump.
You do not want to get fridge spills ,( milk, and other bacteria ), into your bilge. It just stinks.
Put a T fitting (above water line), at your sink drain, and exit the sump box through this.
I found it very convenient to wash out my fridge (frequently), and the water & soap just went right overboard . You don’t want this in your bilge.

 

[baycloud]

Ok,
A couple of things
The drain in the fridge is connected to a hose, which is supposed to easily drain into the bilge.,
Well, on a number of 40.5 boats, Hunter put a loop in it which went upwards before going down again. No reason for it.. they just did it.
If you have this loop, get rid of if (just clipping some cable ties), and turn feed it straight down.
The next thing I’m going to recommend is piping it directly into a small sump box with pump.
You do not want to get fridge spills ,( milk, and other bacteria ), into your bilge. It just stinks.
Put a T fitting (above water line), at your sink drain, and exit the sump box through this.
I found it very convenient to wash out my fridge (frequently), and the water & soap just went right overboard . You don’t want this in your bilge.

OK and that loop was located where the anchor line is in my picture correct? I think I don't have one. That's the compartment below the sink floor

 

[smokey73]

I am a little confused? I have a 1994 Hunter 40.5. Are you calling the area under the cabin sole where the sink drain thru hull is located your "anchor locker?" I dont' think it is designed for this. What do you keep there? Is it just some "extra anchor rode" or do you have an anchor and the rode there where the picture is taken? If there is an anchor there I'd stop doing that immediately!. In a heavy sea the anchor could impact the sink drain thru hull and break it off or could cut the drain line, sinking your boat!

Secondly, how do you get to that "anchor locker"? Is this just a storage area for an extra anchor. How do you get to it quickly if you need it? Do you have to take out the screws holding down the sole? I can see using this for storing soft, light things that won't mold or mildew but an anchor is a non-starter. Maybe I'm all wet but other 40.5 owners can correct me if I'm wrong. What say you @Rich Stidger ?

 

[baycloud]

Good point but it's just extra line @smokey73. Yeah on my to-do list (way down the line) is to make an access hatch that won't require removing screws in a few of the compartments

 

[Rich Stidger]

I am a little confused? Maybe I'm all wet but other 40.5 owners can correct me if I'm wrong. What say you @Rich Stidger ?

Yes, Dan, you are confused. The line in the OP's picture is just some extra line- he's not using it as an anchor locker. However that is the location of the drain hose from the fridge and it crosses that compartment and should be inserted into a hole so that the fridge can drain to the bilge (if that is what you want). Or you could do as @artboas suggests and create a dedicated sump and pump. I have no idea where such a sump could be easily located.

 

[smokey73]

Thanks, I was just concerned that there was an anchor attached to the end of that rode. Would hate to see a boat sink for something that we (this forum) could point out was a poor choice of locating something hard and heavy. I hope the OP also saw or will see your post on replacing the drain hose from the sinks with something more substantial than the flimsy hose that was originally installed. @baycloud search on @Rich Stidger posts related to the problem with this hose and its replacement with a better hose. Maybe Rich can direct you to it.

 

[baycloud]

but the thing is, I don't see how to plug it into *the bottom tray* of the fridge. I could splice the hose in that compartment where my extra anchor line is, but not access the fridge drain barb itself.

Just wanted to confirm that that is everyone else's setup and I'm not missing anything.

I'm planning on using some 4200 (and epoxy coated ply maybe?) to create a sump box that catches the drainage from both sides of the bilge. But I'm not looking forward to that project since access will be very challenging

 

[Rich Stidger]

I'll check my pictures to see if I spliced it. Stay tuned, I'll try to check tomorrow.

 

[Rich Stidger]

@baycloud , the picture below shows the refrigerator drain crossing the under sink area and exiting into a hole on the right side that leads to the bilge. The hose originally was not inserted in the hole or it moved out. You can see the dark stain in the compartment where the refrigerator drainage was standing.
It does not appear that I extended the hose; I just put it in the hole to the bilge.

 

[artboas]

Yes, that is exactly the hose that drains the fridge
The place to mount the sump box is Judy forward of the galley on centre line under the floor. You have access to the bilge there.
You’ll need make a small shelf for the sump box to sit on

option 2, which I greatly prefer…
Get the Whale IC pump, and have it drain your shower as well. The tiny pump in the shower is very under-rated, and constantly clogs.
You can re-route the shower drain & fridge drain into a Whale IC T fitting.
It’s a set & forget solution
If they had the whale option when I had my 40.5, would definitely have done that.