I was having a problem with water in my bilge when covering my boat with a cheap cover in the winter. This year I bit the bullet and purchased a full cover hoping this would solve the problem. Upon checking my boat recently I found the bilge had overflowed as we had a great deal of snow and rain over the winter. The cover did the job of keeping most of the rain and snow off the boat but i believe condensation formed under the cover and fell into the cockpit and was to flow out of the cockpit drains. I believe I read an article on here a couple of years ago regarding faulty cockpit drain hoses possibly causing water to flow into the bilge. Does anyone have any information as how to check the hoses, where they are located, where to purchase new ones if required to do so. Thank you in advance.
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Cockpit drains
Our Cat 30 (1983) has cockpit drains in the back of the cockpit, one on each side. Our boat sits in the marina untended for six months and sometimes the drains are sluggish or even plugged. It is evident when you wash the boat and water stays in the cockpit. Don't see how it would get in the bilge unless a hose is broken. Anyway, I stick a garden hose flowing strongly under the stern where the drain outlet is (it is above water). All kinds of junk flows upward into the cocpit to be disposed of (we have a dog too...dog hair). Then the drains work as intended. Had a friend who had cockpit drains clogged while on jackstands during a hurricane. Cockpit filled with water, into the cabin, did structural damage. Don't replace hoses until backflushing etc.
Our Cat 30 (1983) has cockpit drains in the back of the cockpit, one on each side. Our boat sits in the marina untended for six months and sometimes the drains are sluggish or even plugged. It is evident when you wash the boat and water stays in the cockpit. Don't see how it would get in the bilge unless a hose is broken. Anyway, I stick a garden hose flowing strongly under the stern where the drain outlet is (it is above water). All kinds of junk flows upward into the cocpit to be disposed of (we have a dog too...dog hair). Then the drains work as intended. Had a friend who had cockpit drains clogged while on jackstands during a hurricane. Cockpit filled with water, into the cabin, did structural damage. Don't replace hoses until backflushing etc.
Steering Quadrant Area - Floods
Those infamous Catalina 30 cockpit drains!! On my 1988 Mark II model, I notice that the non-flexing drain line takes a pretty severe angle from the scupper to the transom in the rear lazarette. Good place to trap debris! Its a hefty line and prone to clogging. If the scupper is not screened with some type of debris stopping cover, a good sized leaf, twigs, etc. can and will mess up the drainage. Add to that the small hard to reach drain line in the steering wheel/rudder quandrant well and you have another area that clogs and drains poorly. Unfortunately, you have to back flush through the transom to clear the drain lines from both the cockpit scuppers and quadrant well. I have seen everything from dog hair to a nickel and wine cork come out of those drains when backflushed! Their is aftermarket stainless drain covers available to fit over the scuppers in the cocpit that will hold debris and help prevent clogging. This is the surest cure, but you still have to clear the screen to prevent backup. If you have an older 30 model, perhaps it would be best to try and replace those old drain hoses first or at least check for cracks, wear and proper clamping. I would like to think that the Catalina engineers and designers after building over 6,000 Catalina 30 hulls, would have been spot on with proper sized and placement of cockpit drains. Its just a simple matter of keeping them clear. Bob
Those infamous Catalina 30 cockpit drains!! On my 1988 Mark II model, I notice that the non-flexing drain line takes a pretty severe angle from the scupper to the transom in the rear lazarette. Good place to trap debris! Its a hefty line and prone to clogging. If the scupper is not screened with some type of debris stopping cover, a good sized leaf, twigs, etc. can and will mess up the drainage. Add to that the small hard to reach drain line in the steering wheel/rudder quandrant well and you have another area that clogs and drains poorly. Unfortunately, you have to back flush through the transom to clear the drain lines from both the cockpit scuppers and quadrant well. I have seen everything from dog hair to a nickel and wine cork come out of those drains when backflushed! Their is aftermarket stainless drain covers available to fit over the scuppers in the cocpit that will hold debris and help prevent clogging. This is the surest cure, but you still have to clear the screen to prevent backup. If you have an older 30 model, perhaps it would be best to try and replace those old drain hoses first or at least check for cracks, wear and proper clamping. I would like to think that the Catalina engineers and designers after building over 6,000 Catalina 30 hulls, would have been spot on with proper sized and placement of cockpit drains. Its just a simple matter of keeping them clear. Bob
What I found down there!
My 85 C30 was slow to drain the cockpit too, I flushed and washed and flushed and it was still slow on one side. I used my mechanics tool, a flexible snake type thing that when you push the button on one end a little grabber tines comes out the other end, for picking up nuts and bolts in tight spots. Anyway I used that and grabbed a dozen times and finally I got ahold of a big brass nut that came from somewhere in the boats life, now it works good but still a pain. I also removed the floor in the captians chair compartment just to see what was down there, I found the exhaust hose clamp that was totally loosened over the years and soot had been coming in that closed compartment and gasses?. I think the cockpit drains go through that area too. Dry rotted hoses and loose clamps. Good Luck, Dean www.blowinganddrifting@yahoo.com
My 85 C30 was slow to drain the cockpit too, I flushed and washed and flushed and it was still slow on one side. I used my mechanics tool, a flexible snake type thing that when you push the button on one end a little grabber tines comes out the other end, for picking up nuts and bolts in tight spots. Anyway I used that and grabbed a dozen times and finally I got ahold of a big brass nut that came from somewhere in the boats life, now it works good but still a pain. I also removed the floor in the captians chair compartment just to see what was down there, I found the exhaust hose clamp that was totally loosened over the years and soot had been coming in that closed compartment and gasses?. I think the cockpit drains go through that area too. Dry rotted hoses and loose clamps. Good Luck, Dean www.blowinganddrifting@yahoo.com
Cockpit drain hose access
The hoses are located at the most aft portion of the boat (obviously), access is best gained from crawling head first into the quarterberth and removing the panel (mine is nice teak ply). There are about 5 or so screws. Once removed you'll need a flashlight to look back & inspect the hoses that run from the cockpit drains to the through hulls. first look for signs of water entry (mine was dusty)then have someone run water down the drains & look for water to be sure. Good luck!
The hoses are located at the most aft portion of the boat (obviously), access is best gained from crawling head first into the quarterberth and removing the panel (mine is nice teak ply). There are about 5 or so screws. Once removed you'll need a flashlight to look back & inspect the hoses that run from the cockpit drains to the through hulls. first look for signs of water entry (mine was dusty)then have someone run water down the drains & look for water to be sure. Good luck!
Thank you for your help. With the weather finally warming up I can now take the info I gained here and put it to use.
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