Cockpit Drains Below Waterline without Seacocks on Bristol Corinthian 19

[gregorvn]

I just bought a Bristol Corinthian 19. It'll be my project for a while, and I imagine I'll be here asking a number of questions as I go.

While most Corinthians don't have a self-draining cockpit, apparently they made some that do. Mine is registered as a 1979 model year.

Anyway, the cockpit has two drains that drain below the waterline. The hoses are clamped to what appear to be fiberglassed tubes top and bottom--no metal thru-hull or seacocks. This seems strange and not very safe to me.

I think removing the bottom fiberglassed tubes and replacing with a real thru-hull and seacocks. Opinions? Would it be better to completely fill the holes and drill new holes for the seacocks, or use the existing holes.

 

[Terry Cox]

How you do it is up to a marine surveyor’s recommendations. These need through hull valves that can be closed as well as two adjustable SS hose clamps to secure the hose to the valve. Otherwise, you risk sinking your boat.

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

had the same thing on my Meridian. I removed them, glassed over and installed drains above the water line, WITH valves

 

[Will Gilmore]

Seacocks are not going to make your system any safer. Lots of self-draining cockpits run hoses without them. My own Mariner 19 does it. The Mariner does use thru-hull fittings though. The real concern is in the age and condition of the glass. If that looks questionable, rebuild that structure. Thru-hulls may be the easiest way, but not necessarily. Your pictures make them look simple and easy to work with.

-Will (Dragonfly)

 

[rpludwig]

+1, suggest you take a stroll on the Catalina 22 forum, similar design on the pre-86 models. Do a search for cockpit drains, you'll see plenty of pics and proper fixes...here's one with a good b4 & after pic:

New to me 1975 Catalina 22: questions

Hi folks, I just checked off a bucket list item, getting myself an old Catalina 22. It appears to be in rough shape, almost everything on it needs replaced, but it seems to be solid enough. However, i have some questions. 1. how do you know when the keel is cranked all the way down? There...

forums.sailboatowners.com

 

[gregorvn]

Thanks for the advice everyone. The Catalina 22 discussions and photos were helpful. Thanks.

 

[Benny17441]

Given the fact that you already have molded thru hull tubes it does not make it any safer to plug them up and drill new holes for thru hull valves. The purpose and the location of them through hull tubes probably does not lend itself to practicality to have a valve on them; Just inspect frequently the hose and clamps. That is a rigid hose and it unlikely it will come off should the clamp fail, just make sure the hose is in good condition. Nothing to worry about, they use to build them like that.