Cockpit Drain - Update - Update

[Greengas]

So I was working underneath the cockpit seats and looked towards the transom and noticed that I could see where the drain from the cockpit was coming down and there was a hose connected to the drain that goes out the transom but the the two were not connected. That means, if I understand things correctly, that the water from the cockpit is just going into the back of boat where all that Styrofoam is. That would account for why it is wet back there. So my question is, should the two be connected? Is there any other purpose for that drain hole in the transom apart from draining the water from the cockpit? My guess is, the two should be connected, but what do I know

 

[justsomeguy]

My guess is, the two should be connected, but what do I know

This is a good guess.

 

[philwsailz]

I remember a really wet spring when a doctor friend was out mopping up after a hard rain. I went down to the dock with two beers, handed him one and sat back to watch and chat.

He was bailing from the cabin to the cockpit, working hard but seemingly making no headway. The beer was good. And cold. So I finished mine before digging in.

After setting the dead soldier aside, I took my shoes off, (he was more a sailor than a maintainer) and went below into that humid hell. A quick look aft to the port side of the companionway revealed an inrush of water with every bucket.

Same or similar scenario.

I pointed it out.... Asked him to come over whet I was. Then I bailed a bucket of water into the cockpit. Then I handed him a pair of pliers and a screwdriver and went for another round.

He got it figured out. He was wet, sweaty, and exhausted tying the two hoses back to both the cockpit drains and the scuppers.

I could have dove in and fixed it. He would have learned nothing.

he bought the next round...

 

[shemandr]

Sounds like the drain system of the Rangers and others of that era. Not the best. A nexus of hose which all drain through two thru-hulls. Connect them and check the connections from time to time. They have a way of loosening.

 

[BudGates]

The best part about restoring an old boat is that you learn first hand what everything does and where it is before you set sail. I don't really need to repeat what others have said but "Yes, hook it up."

 

[Greengas]

The best part about restoring an old boat is that you learn first hand what everything does and where it is before you set sail. I don't really need to repeat what others have said but "Yes, hook it up."

Thanks Bud and to everyone who has helped me with the journey. I agree that learning from the bottom, excuse me keel, up is the best way. Now I have to be patient enough with my son so he will teach me how to sail this year. He and I tend to blend like oil and water and no, my avatar is not a picture of him, it is of my grandson.

 

[Capt jgw]

I did a rescue with the CG Aux like that once. Sailor was alone in the boat, five miles off and in six foot seas. He was knee deep bailing into the cockpit and not keeping up. By the time we got pumps on and running it was waist deep. Probably five more minutes and she'd gone down. After haul out we found the cockpit drain disconnected. The following seas had shipped enough water to hold the outlet below water and it was down hill from there.
Yea, connect it back up.

 

[centerline]

Is there any other purpose for that drain hole in the transom apart from draining the water from the cockpit? My guess is, the two should be connected, but what do I know

is this not ENOUGH reason?...

at some point in your sailing fun, you may experience a knockdown or two, and if severe enough you will scoop a LOT of water into the cockpit (especially a knockdown while running), and if it doesnt drain back out into the lake thru the little scupper hole, you will have a good portion of the lake in your bilge....

or... it will rain. and it will rain, and rain some more, and soon the boat will have as much water in side of it as it does outside of it... then it sinks. or if on the trailer, can cause damage to the hull and maybe to the trailer.... so yep, as others said, make sure the two holes are connected with a piece of tubing and clamps

 

[DaveJ]

I had the same issue with a Catalina 30 that I purchased in the fall many years ago. I went to the boat around the Christmas break and the bilge was full of ice! Three days of blasting a heater at the ice finally melted it, so I used a small bucket and bailed the water....into the cockpit. That's what scuppers are for, to drain the cockpit, right? After about 1/2 hour I realized I was getting nowhere (slow learner) and bailed it out over the sides. Eventually I discovered that the scupper hoses had rotted and rain and snow melt were draining into the bilge. Not an easy repair job, unless your arms are 7' long.....

Cheers

 

[Capt jgw]

That's what the guy we rescued said. He knew he had an open through hull, and checked the ones he could get to, but he couldn't get to the cockpit drain without drowning. So of course that was the one that was open. Captain Murphy again.

 

[Greengas]

I have tasked my son, a.k.a. my first mate, to climb inside the boat today and get some photos of what the scupper drain looks like at the connection to the thru hole. His thought is a simple compression boot like you would use for a plumbing fix. My thought is to replace it with a new hose that actually reaches both openings. I told him that either way he would still have to get a pretty close measurement (for his method) or and exact measurement (for my method) on the size of the hose so we know what size compression boot or replacement hose to get. I also said he needs to check on the condition of the existing hoses because if they are brittle or the connectors are rusted out we will need to do more than just put on a compression boot.

 

[Capt jgw]

Don't mess around with it, just replace the whole hose and fittings if necessary. The compression boot is not the way to go with this. Your house rain gutters, yes. But not on something that could sink your boat and drown you.

 

[Greengas]

Don't mess around with it, just replace the whole hose and fittings if necessary. The compression boot is not the way to go with this. Your house rain gutters, yes. But not on something that could sink your boat and drown you.

I agree fully. But I am trying to guide my first mate to seeing that is the right way to go. If I push too hard then there is little learning, just following orders. So, I will guide him towards doing things the right way versus the easy way.

 

[centerline]

on a trailer sailer, a piece of automotive heater hose of the right size would work well there, as opposed to the heavy duty, and expensive "marine" grade hose. it will be a better choice than the original clear poly hose the manufacture used.
if the exit is in its original location, it is NOT below the waterline, and heater hose is designed to perform in a harsh enviroment, and will last a long time there. it is also the best choice for the keel cable tube...
it remains flexible, which is important so that a stiff hose connection does not cause the nipples to crack loose from the the hull fittings as the cockpit moves slightly different than the transom does.... the original nipple on the cockpit bottom is epoxied on, and when they break you have to go in with a grinder and remove the rest of it so you can install a regular thru hull in the remaining scupper hole.

there is a time to use the expensive marine grade hose, but it isnt necessary there...

 

[Greengas]

Well, my first mate got the photos today. So here is what it looks like inside the boat below the scupper. You can see the scupper coming down and the thru hole. Below it you can see what looks like a piece of black rubber tubing with a clamp on it. Of course, the tubing is just sitting on the bottom not attached to anything. So, next time I go out I will crawl back there, removing what ever I need to in the way of Styrofoam to get the existing piece. Then I will figure out the length I need and get the replacement. I think I will see if my first mate is up for doing the actual replacement. I figure that fair, I retrieve it, he replaces it.

 

[justsomeguy]

Is the hose a goner, or does it just need re-attaching?

 

[Greengas]

Is the hose a goner, or does it just need re-attaching?

I'll know when I crawl back there. From the photo it does not seem long enough but that makes no sense unless there are more pieces floating around back there.

 

[Apex]

hmmm, looks like a potential for a low spot in the hose, for a drain, you don't want any standing water in the hose (plenty of pitch) Perhaps that is why the hose is short, to reduce any slack that could pool water.

 

[justsomeguy]

hmmm, looks like a potential for a low spot in the hose, for a drain, you don't want any standing water in the hose (plenty of pitch) Perhaps that is why the hose is short, to reduce any slack that could pool water.

Unfortunately, the cockpit drain outlet and through hull are almost level with each other, making a trap practically inevitable.

 

[Justin_NSA]

Several years back a Mac 25 almost sank for the same reason. He motored out to view the Labor Day fireworks show with too many passengers. The Thru-hull was dipping below the waterline. Fortunately he realized he was sinking and got back to his slip before it was too late. Everyone on the dock pitched in and tied dock lines under the boat, submersible pumps inside etc and kept it from sinking right there in the slip.