Garboard drain plug in 27' 1980 Hunter

[Joe]

During winter land storage, the bilge in my H 27 collects water. I am thinking about installing a garboard drain. Any suggestions on best ways to do this or the lowest spot in the bilge? Thank you.

 

[Steve Dion]

Don't do it at all!

Joe:There were some posts on this earlier in the season. Search the archives and check out the responses. Pour a gallon of RV 100- antifreeze in the bilge and say ta-hell-with-it!

 

[David]

Find the leak

I find the RV antifreeze when diluted by a little stray water will readily freeze through the winter. So don't look to that to protect your vessel from leaks. Find the leak to stop the inflow. Have you checked the cockpit drain lines? Mine seem to slip off the fittings often letting water into the bilge. The last thing I would do is make another hole in the bottom.David

 

[Jim Legere]

One way...

Despite the naysayers, I went and put one in my 37C. I found the right spot to drill by attaching a strong (rare-earth) magnet to a long dowel. I inserted this into the lowest spot in the bilge and then found the corresponding spot on the outside of the hull using a an old fashioned magnetic stud finder (carpenters tool by Stanley). Then install a high quality bronze garboard plug bedded in 3M 5200 or your favourite goo... Good Luck!

 

[Ed Schenck]

Agree, don't do it.

But for a different reason. In my yard the low point of the bilge(H37C) is going to differ from winter to winter. Where they put the boat and how many blocks they put under the cradle makes all the difference. My boat has occupied two places already this season. When in the parking lot the low point was aft, near the engine thru-hull. Now it's near the mast. How many drain holes do you want to drill? I find that the anti-freeze slushes up but never really gets hard. Water is a problem on an H37C because of the keel-stepped mast. Not sure why you would have water on an H27. Ed(Ol' Yankee)

 

[Carl Foster]

Possible bilge water sourceSeveral years

Several years ago i was puzzeled by the unwanted water that at times came over the low side of the cabin sole while under sail.Stuffing box minimal drip,all thru hulls and hoses dry-whats going on? Finally [after better than a year of this] discovered source.When heeled under choppy conditions, the water on deck on the high side travels to the stern and flows thru the bilge vent and of course straight to the bilge.The cure?Epoxied small dam 1/2 inch to bottom of vent.This cured under sail problem but remember,vent is still open to wind driven rain and since i live on board is no problem to stuff two sponges in when hard rain. Mine is 79 27'may have different config than yours so this may be for nought.