Forward cockpit drain H33

[jorgefife]

Dave Underwood posted this article under "owner modifications"
I just wanted to ask 2 questions:
1- the drains is situated at the entrance of the companionway, correct?
2- Where does the other end of pipe under the floor)connect to/ leads to for the water to discharge? Do I understand it goes into a through hull? Can it go anyother place? If you have a similar boat and understand my question, can you tell me exactly where the end goes?
Thanks
It looks a great idea, the water just collects in that area all the time, very poor insight when the boat was built (unless of course only my boat is like that!)

 

[Paul F]

The boat you have may be like other H33. Mine has the same problem where water collects in the front of the cockpit. I use a rag to dry it before going out if it bothers me. Usually ignoring this small problem does wonders. "Hey, it's a boat and it gets wet", lol. Seriously, putting more "holes" in the boat to solve the problem seems extreme. If it really bothers you to the point that this must be fixed, it might be better to build up the low spot and let the water flow to the aft cockpit drain.

 

[jorgefife]

Paul,
Thank you for adjusting my thinking
You are quite correct: it will take me 1 minute to sponge up the water that gathers there
There are a lot more important things to do
And I don't want to make more holes than the ones I already have
The fact there is someone in the same "boat" as me, mopping up, makes me feel better
Greta advice, need some clear thinking sometimes, not get carried away
My boat's name is very appropriate: Obssession!

 

[Scott F. Murphy]

Filled it in.

It's not so much the water in the front area of the cockpit that bothered me, it was the dirt and slime that would accumulate because of the water. This past spring as part of preparation for painting I decided to fix the problem. After sanding down to gel coat in the area I applied a coat of resin, followed by two progressively larger small triangles of cloth, then I followed with a smoothing coat of resin with micro balloons mixed in and finished it off with a final coat of cloth and resin, sanded and primed.

Sounds like a lot of work but I stretched out, only did applicatiions right before I was leaving the boat and sanded when I got back the next weekend. I still went sailing between times. Yes it took a couple of months. I did not make it any higher than the surrounding areas, I did not want to have to raise my fuel filler tube, but it is shallow enough that any water left dries out in an hour or so and it stays clean. While doing it I often questioned my sanity for starting it but it was well worth the trouble.

Scott

 

[Sylvain]

I built up the forward area with epoxy (cored with bedded plywood) and slopped to the rear. I didn't want to make a hole and complicate my life with a drain.

It worked out fine.

 

[Ed H]

Great idea... I just painted my cockpit, but I will raise that spot prior to the next painting. Ed H

 

[SamLust]

That puddling at the forward end of the cockpit seems to be a defect or oversight in the mold. I took the easy way out and simple poured some thickened epoxy on it and finished with traction paint. It's worked fine for 10 years.

 

[Ed H]

Sam- Would that add any strength?... I constantly worry about that location: guests land heavily in that area when boarding or stepping down from the side decks. Ed H

 

[sandpiper10471]

I don't think it would add strength. I would grind off the gelcoat and build up the area with several layers of either 1705 stitchmat or alternating layers of 1.5 oz. chopped mat and 24 oz. woven roving. Or, since you are just adding bulk, straight chopped would work fine. Whenever you use chopped, you must use either polyester or vinlyester resin, never epoxy. Finish with resin thickened with microballons and then gelcoat or paint.

 

[SamLust]

I doubt there is any added strength. All I needed was to direct the water away from the defect. Plain old thickened epoxy covered with what was probably Interlux Brightside left over from another project. Has held up fine for 10 years.

 

[Steve W]

jorgefife, when I had my '81 33, I remember Dave's modification. It was very simple if I recall (and you can check the owner modifications to see whether it's still posted - it probably is). Essentially, it was a small thru-hull at the lowest part, connected to a 90deg elbow under the deck connected to a length of hose heading to the side of the hull and another thru-hull to drain overboard. Just make sure that hose has a slight downward angle to drain the water.