I have a 1979 O'Day 25 with a galley sink that will not drain. The boat is in the water. I can not trace where the clog is. There is tubing that comes down from the bottom drain of the sink and then goes to a T valve that routes one tube to the bottom of the hull the other end off to one side which routes to the starboard side mid ship of the hull above water line. I suspect the clog is in the valve can i pull this valve out or may this sink my boat with it being in the water? Is there anyone familiar with this setup or process i am a little nervous to tear into this valve. I have tried a plunger several times with no luck, just makes a mess. I thought of using some sort of snake but not to sure how well PVC tubing would hold up to this. Any ideas would be appreciated. Just FYI I think that it was coffee grounds dumped in sink while washing dish's that caused this.
Galley sink won't drain
- Thread starter scottf96
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disconnect the hose from the sink and run a small snake down the drain hose. You can pick one up at the hardware store for a couple of bucks.
clogged drain
Scott, are you certain you do not have an inadvertently closed through hull? Check the position of the valve handle. Otherwise, use a garden hose with a spray nozzle on high and stick it in the drain opening. If there is anything clogging the lines it should clear. I have used this for clogged drains and anchor wells with much success. If this does not work, you'll have the trace your plumbing lines and look for another problem. Best luck!
And the purpose of the line that goes thru the hull above the waterline is....??? Sounds like your tee is set to drain to that, but can't do it because it's uphill. You said the other line goes to the bottom of the hull, but you didn't say it went THRU the hull. Maybe it just drains to the bilge? Blow it all out with a shop vac exhaust.
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Drain
Periodically, our galley sink, which drains below the waterline, clogs from assorted stuff. Same goes for the aft shower drain that drains into a sump. I use Drano only in the galley sink per directions. In both cases I use a plunger to aggressively pump (agitate) several times to break up any material that collects in the drain line. Make sure that the discharge end is enclosed in water. After several years of using this method, I am very pleased with the results. It is amazing how much stuff the agitation breaks loose.
Snakes, disassembly, hiring a plumber, etc. not necessary, IMHO.
Terry Cox
Periodically, our galley sink, which drains below the waterline, clogs from assorted stuff. Same goes for the aft shower drain that drains into a sump. I use Drano only in the galley sink per directions. In both cases I use a plunger to aggressively pump (agitate) several times to break up any material that collects in the drain line. Make sure that the discharge end is enclosed in water. After several years of using this method, I am very pleased with the results. It is amazing how much stuff the agitation breaks loose.
Snakes, disassembly, hiring a plumber, etc. not necessary, IMHO.
Terry Cox
Do NOT remove the thru hull while the boat is in the water unless you are very sure that it is well above the water line!
You can pull the "T" out to check or clean it. If it is as you describe it and the thru hull is above the waterline nothing will happen. I am assuming that you do not have a shutoff valve or sea cock on the thru hull so if by chance it is below the waterline, you will get some water coming in, so you should have a damage control plug (a tapered wooden plug) correctly sized, to insert into the hose to the thru hull.
I have valves or sea cocks on all my thru hulls but I still have a proper DC plug taped to the hose by every sea cock should the sea cock freeze.
I always have a spectacular geyser at my knot-meter paddle wheel cylinder, when I pull it to clean it. It's deep underwater and under a bit of pressure. I have a blank cylinder to put in place, when I pull the paddle-wheel cylinder, but before I get one out of the way and the other inserted I get a geyser thats 2 inches in diameter and three feet high. I block it as best as I can with my hand while making the swap, and I usually get wet. Though adrenaline level goes up there is never any danger of sinking the boat.
After the paddle-wheel is cleaned I go through it again to replace it. The water goes to an area where it causes no problems and eventually gets pumped overboard. Note well however that I wouldn't do anything like that if I didn't have some kind of a plug to insert.
Have fun
Joe S
I have valves or sea cocks on all my thru hulls but I still have a proper DC plug taped to the hose by every sea cock should the sea cock freeze.
I always have a spectacular geyser at my knot-meter paddle wheel cylinder, when I pull it to clean it. It's deep underwater and under a bit of pressure. I have a blank cylinder to put in place, when I pull the paddle-wheel cylinder, but before I get one out of the way and the other inserted I get a geyser thats 2 inches in diameter and three feet high. I block it as best as I can with my hand while making the swap, and I usually get wet. Though adrenaline level goes up there is never any danger of sinking the boat.
After the paddle-wheel is cleaned I go through it again to replace it. The water goes to an area where it causes no problems and eventually gets pumped overboard. Note well however that I wouldn't do anything like that if I didn't have some kind of a plug to insert.
Have fun
Joe S
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