473 swim step storage locker

[jibstay]

I guess almost everyone knows the stern on the 473 sits a bit low. This means the drain in the storage locker in the swim step is under water. There was always a couple of inches of water in the bottom of the locker. If I didn't clean it every week, it would get a lot of growth (Southeast US, salt water). Once, when I was away from the boat for several weeks, there were oysters starting to grow.

We're currently in the West Palm Beach, FL area, and I'd heard good things about a fiberglass guy called Ron Ternullo. Ron did an amazing job. He extended the drain upwards, then filled the bottom of the locker with expanding foam, and fiberglassed over it. All while the boat was in the water.

I couldn't be happier with the result.

Now I have a usable storage locker for masks, snorkels, and fins.

 

[SettleMeDown]

This looks great. Our new-to-us 473 has the same issue, of course. But it appears to be even worse as the drain tube from the swim platform locker seems to have been compromised and water has infiltrated the rear laz. Looks like a more in depth fiberglass job than yours and will require haul out. Trying to find a temporary solution to get us through the end of October. Considering having mechanic stuff some marine epoxy in the bottom of the drain hull side. Thoughts?

Bill

 

[jibstay]

Thanks. We stuffed a dense sponge (think nerf football density) down into the drain to buy us the time needed to clean out the growth and extend the drain upwards.

It was surprisingly effective at keeping the water out. When the project was completed, we just poked the sponge out from inside.

It's worth a try. Best of luck.

 

[4arch]

That looks like a great solution! My 400 has the same issue. The PO jammed rubber plugs in the drain holes but that doesn't exactly allow them to be used as wet lockers and there's not much I would want to dry store back there.

 

[jibstay]

I tried using a rubber plug on the inside, to keep the seawater out, but then the locker would fill with rainwater.

 

[SettleMeDown]

Mechanic filled drain all the way through with epoxy yesterday. We'll have fiberglass guy fit the locker like yours over the winter. This quick fix has stopped seawater from entering bilge and that's a trade off ill gladly take for some rainwater just in the locker for now.