Bought a 1977 Catalina 30 Salvage Boat with debris (reeds, wood splinters,mud, and no telling what else) in the cockpit drains. I have tried air pressure, wet vac, and water pressure with small brass nozzle. Nothing is working. All the cockpit drains I have ever seen had the drain on top in the cockpit connected the drain on the bottom of the boat (ABOVE THE WATER LINE) connected by rubber hose and hose clamps. This thing has brass pipe fittings with 90 degree turns. Last night I tried coke thinking the acid would dissolve the debris. I once saw an experiment where a piece of cooked meat dissolved overnight in a coke of glass and a human tooth was desolved in a week! Also, I have tried a coat hanger and a piano wire. Should I try liquid plumber? I am willling to try anything!
Cockpit Drains
- Thread starter Traumaguard
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Try the Catalina 30 list
You should probally take the drains apart and replace the hose and thru-hull fitting (not an easy to-get-to job). They are most likely plastic and should be metal. Also - Sailnet.com has a good Catalina 30 list dedicated soley to that model boat...check it out.
You should probally take the drains apart and replace the hose and thru-hull fitting (not an easy to-get-to job). They are most likely plastic and should be metal. Also - Sailnet.com has a good Catalina 30 list dedicated soley to that model boat...check it out.
Try this!
First, I'll ask a stupid question: Are the seacocks open? If the answer is "no", then you know what to do.
If there are no seacocks, there should be some. If the answer is "yes" then try to reverse-flush before you disassemble them. That is the next point: You may have to disassembler them and disconnect the drain hoses. Then you may be able to clean them out. Good Luck!
First, I'll ask a stupid question: Are the seacocks open? If the answer is "no", then you know what to do.
If there are no seacocks, there should be some. If the answer is "yes" then try to reverse-flush before you disassemble them. That is the next point: You may have to disassembler them and disconnect the drain hoses. Then you may be able to clean them out. Good Luck! Sounds like a bad setup
to begin with. Remove the pipes and install the proper hoses! If you don't want to do that then it sounds like its time for the Draino!
to begin with. Remove the pipes and install the proper hoses! If you don't want to do that then it sounds like its time for the Draino!
After all else fails…
… a cutting torch will be the short- and long-term solution. I'd recommend replacing that tubing with hose. 90° elbows? Something else is going to get stuck in there sooner or later.
… a cutting torch will be the short- and long-term solution. I'd recommend replacing that tubing with hose. 90° elbows? Something else is going to get stuck in there sooner or later.
No to Draino...
I would stay away from Draino. If it doesn't work you are going to have to take the system apart with acid inside of it.
I would stay away from Draino. If it doesn't work you are going to have to take the system apart with acid inside of it.
Cockpit Drains Dont Have Sea Cocks
It never ceases to amaze me how many people on here will give advice when they dont have a damned clue as to what the heck they are talkng about. COCKPIT DRAINS DONT HAVE SEACOCKS. So much for their advice now and forever. First off, dont ever use chemicals for cleaning any kind of drains on a boat. They may eat away at your hoses or even possibly damage the fiberglass. You are right about the cockpit drains and hoses, i had a Catalina 30 and neither mine nor anyone elses i had seen had brass fitings. I would remove the brass fittings, clean out the debris and put the hoses back the way they belong. If you dont know the way they belong, every marina has a gazillion Cat 30's, surely someone will let you look at theirs. The ass end of Catalina 30's tends to squat sometimes with weight in the rear. I would stand or sit in the back lazarette while someone else was on the dock to make sure that your weight doesnt slightly submerge part of the drain outlet before you remove the hoses. I hope you are married to a left-handed midget, because it is difficult to reach in there. Good luck, and YES its a 'fun sailing' boat. GOOD LUCK with your new boat. Oh yeah, BTW, torches work real well on fiberglass.
It never ceases to amaze me how many people on here will give advice when they dont have a damned clue as to what the heck they are talkng about. COCKPIT DRAINS DONT HAVE SEACOCKS. So much for their advice now and forever. First off, dont ever use chemicals for cleaning any kind of drains on a boat. They may eat away at your hoses or even possibly damage the fiberglass. You are right about the cockpit drains and hoses, i had a Catalina 30 and neither mine nor anyone elses i had seen had brass fitings. I would remove the brass fittings, clean out the debris and put the hoses back the way they belong. If you dont know the way they belong, every marina has a gazillion Cat 30's, surely someone will let you look at theirs. The ass end of Catalina 30's tends to squat sometimes with weight in the rear. I would stand or sit in the back lazarette while someone else was on the dock to make sure that your weight doesnt slightly submerge part of the drain outlet before you remove the hoses. I hope you are married to a left-handed midget, because it is difficult to reach in there. Good luck, and YES its a 'fun sailing' boat. GOOD LUCK with your new boat. Oh yeah, BTW, torches work real well on fiberglass.
Bob you really must be careful
about making blanket statements. My Islander had gate valves in the cockpit drains and they ran to a single 3/4 inch through hull. a maple leaf on each drain would effectively plug the whole system. I replaced the with a pair of 2 inch diameter pipes that run from the cockpit tho the transom I placed anti backflow valves in each pipe. Never have a problem now.
about making blanket statements. My Islander had gate valves in the cockpit drains and they ran to a single 3/4 inch through hull. a maple leaf on each drain would effectively plug the whole system. I replaced the with a pair of 2 inch diameter pipes that run from the cockpit tho the transom I placed anti backflow valves in each pipe. Never have a problem now.
Cockpit Drain Seacocks
Because, as Bob suggests, “... COCKPIT DRAINS DONT (usually) HAVE SEACOCKS ...” it’s (often) not possible to remove the drain hose for cleaning or replacement while afloat. This is an unfortunate circumstance, that could be remedied by the installation of seacocks, which would be always tied “open” (until circumstances require closing them). I prefer NOT to have any holes in my hull, that I cannot close off. FWIW, Gord
Because, as Bob suggests, “... COCKPIT DRAINS DONT (usually) HAVE SEACOCKS ...” it’s (often) not possible to remove the drain hose for cleaning or replacement while afloat. This is an unfortunate circumstance, that could be remedied by the installation of seacocks, which would be always tied “open” (until circumstances require closing them). I prefer NOT to have any holes in my hull, that I cannot close off. FWIW, Gord
Er - beg your pardon there Bob
We had a sail boat surveyed in Nov and the surveyor and insurance company want seacocks on the cockpit drains. The surveyor is reputable and is SAMS accredited.
We had a sail boat surveyed in Nov and the surveyor and insurance company want seacocks on the cockpit drains. The surveyor is reputable and is SAMS accredited.
Bob (Cockpit Drain Thru-hulls)
Bob, I beg to differ. I have SEEN them and, unfortunately, they are not often maintained properly because of their location. My brother almost lost a boat because the hose was rotting on the seacock and it was open. Had the hose broken, it would have flooded and sank the boat. So much for YOUR advice now and forever. Watch your blanket statements. Your mouth will get you in trouble. I am speaking from experience and please consider why people, like myself, will make a recommendation such as that, based on experience! Experience tells the truth! BTW, here is a quote from Boat/US SEAWORTY Magazine about cockpit drain thru-hulls: "...And all thru-hulls, especially the ones for the cockpit drains, must be double-clamped with stainless steel hose clamps at each end. This is critical. When water freezes it expands and will lift a poorly secured hose off of a fitting..." I rest my case!
Bob, I beg to differ. I have SEEN them and, unfortunately, they are not often maintained properly because of their location. My brother almost lost a boat because the hose was rotting on the seacock and it was open. Had the hose broken, it would have flooded and sank the boat. So much for YOUR advice now and forever. Watch your blanket statements. Your mouth will get you in trouble. I am speaking from experience and please consider why people, like myself, will make a recommendation such as that, based on experience! Experience tells the truth! BTW, here is a quote from Boat/US SEAWORTY Magazine about cockpit drain thru-hulls: "...And all thru-hulls, especially the ones for the cockpit drains, must be double-clamped with stainless steel hose clamps at each end. This is critical. When water freezes it expands and will lift a poorly secured hose off of a fitting..." I rest my case!
Never Ceases To Amaze
how many people on here will give advice when they dont have a damned clue as to what the heck they are talkng about.
how many people on here will give advice when they dont have a damned clue as to what the heck they are talkng about.
man on man oh man
Your all wrong Paul...your quote from the mag doesn't say anything about seacocks. Bob...it may not be common, but does make sense to have seacocks on drain hoses. Not because you would ever want to stop the cockpit from draining unless you wanted to take a bath in your cockpit, but because at some point, you may need to stop the flow of water into the cabin from these outlets. I can't think of any reason it would hurt to have them on there.
Your all wrong
Paul...your quote from the mag doesn't say anything about seacocks. Bob...it may not be common, but does make sense to have seacocks on drain hoses. Not because you would ever want to stop the cockpit from draining unless you wanted to take a bath in your cockpit, but because at some point, you may need to stop the flow of water into the cabin from these outlets. I can't think of any reason it would hurt to have them on there.
OK, one more point.
My H34 never had seacocks on the cockpit drains. Still doesn't. The reason is the outlets are above the waterline. Sure, any opening below the WL needs one.
My H34 never had seacocks on the cockpit drains. Still doesn't. The reason is the outlets are above the waterline. Sure, any opening below the WL needs one.
Lube using Q-tip just won't do it
Q-tip just doesn't put enough grease in there. Get a cheapo 1/2" wide paint brush for $.30 and put a healty glob of White Lithium Grease on it, close the seacock, shove the paint brush up the hole, work it around a bit, then go back inside and work the handle a few times to spread it around.
Q-tip just doesn't put enough grease in there. Get a cheapo 1/2" wide paint brush for $.30 and put a healty glob of White Lithium Grease on it, close the seacock, shove the paint brush up the hole, work it around a bit, then go back inside and work the handle a few times to spread it around.
Gee
First off....Bob why don't you relax a bit. The reason I post questions (which probably are dumb at times) or read "all" of the responses to other questions is to learn about other peoples experience, dumb or not so I don't make the same mistake. So it is good to hear and tell and for all to comment on each so we can all get a complete picture of the reasons why and why not and work together as a team to find a solution. And Bob, why would you make such a horible comment about a left handed midget? Are you that perfect? Must be nice to be Bob..... Interesting, I was looking at a 2002 Jenneau and all of the through hulls, inclusive of the cockpit drains had sea cocks. Greg
First off....Bob why don't you relax a bit. The reason I post questions (which probably are dumb at times) or read "all" of the responses to other questions is to learn about other peoples experience, dumb or not so I don't make the same mistake. So it is good to hear and tell and for all to comment on each so we can all get a complete picture of the reasons why and why not and work together as a team to find a solution. And Bob, why would you make such a horible comment about a left handed midget? Are you that perfect? Must be nice to be Bob..... Interesting, I was looking at a 2002 Jenneau and all of the through hulls, inclusive of the cockpit drains had sea cocks. Greg
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