Our boat has a drain on the centerboard housing to drain the area between the deck and the hull. We removed this for the first time yesterday only to find a mass of rotting leaves, hair, acorns, etc inside -- it looks like the previous owner stored the boat under an oak tree and kept the plug open.... We cleared as much out as we could reach with our fingers, but there seems to be more of it inside; how much more is unclear. The questions we have are: 1. Is the stuff in the hull a hazard or a nuisance? Do we need to clean it out before putting in or can we sail safely until the end of the season before addressing it? 2. How would we clean it out? The boat doesn't have any kind of inspection port for access to the area between the deck and the hull.
- Status
It will just be a nuisance
They sell deck plates that you can install. I installed an 8" Beckson Deck Plate on the inside transom of my O'Day 222 a couple of years ago so that I could get at my self bailing hose and rudder gudgeons. once the plate is installed you can unscrew the cover and have access to whatever is behind it. The only problem you're going to run up against is water getting trapped between the hull and cockpit sole plate because of debris. This could cause problems up here with the cold winters that we get. With a deck plate in the stern somewhere, you may be able to flush out the inside and remove the debris as it float toward the stern until you get it all. Knowing where to install the deck plate is very crucial to getting at the outlet drain in the hull.
They sell deck plates that you can install. I installed an 8" Beckson Deck Plate on the inside transom of my O'Day 222 a couple of years ago so that I could get at my self bailing hose and rudder gudgeons. once the plate is installed you can unscrew the cover and have access to whatever is behind it. The only problem you're going to run up against is water getting trapped between the hull and cockpit sole plate because of debris. This could cause problems up here with the cold winters that we get. With a deck plate in the stern somewhere, you may be able to flush out the inside and remove the debris as it float toward the stern until you get it all. Knowing where to install the deck plate is very crucial to getting at the outlet drain in the hull.
Flotation tank drain
Actually, what you have there is the drain for the bow flotation tank. The tank is actually filled with foam, so plugging the hole is not absolutely needed, basically the hole allows condensation or any water that did leak in to drain out...and might I add, not very well! I had the same setup on my old Widgeon and it was tough to find a plug that would really seal the drain. I tried to clean out the debris that was in there, but finally gave up! It really isn't a hazzard. Some people just use a piece of tape over the hole. I might try leaving the boat for a few days to a week with the bow raised up enough (lift trailer tongue) to allow as much water to drain as you can, then either put a plug in the hole or tape over it. I wouldn't permanently seal it up, but you do want to try to prevent getting more water and or debris in there. I tried putting an inspection port on hte top of the bow flotation tank on my Widgeon (1969 model, before O'Day added the forward deck) but it really didn't help, all I found was styrofoam!
Actually, what you have there is the drain for the bow flotation tank. The tank is actually filled with foam, so plugging the hole is not absolutely needed, basically the hole allows condensation or any water that did leak in to drain out...and might I add, not very well! I had the same setup on my old Widgeon and it was tough to find a plug that would really seal the drain. I tried to clean out the debris that was in there, but finally gave up! It really isn't a hazzard. Some people just use a piece of tape over the hole. I might try leaving the boat for a few days to a week with the bow raised up enough (lift trailer tongue) to allow as much water to drain as you can, then either put a plug in the hole or tape over it. I wouldn't permanently seal it up, but you do want to try to prevent getting more water and or debris in there. I tried putting an inspection port on hte top of the bow flotation tank on my Widgeon (1969 model, before O'Day added the forward deck) but it really didn't help, all I found was styrofoam!
- Status