h 25 cooler drain

[Db421]

Refitting my '83 h25 and need help with adding a drain to the built in cooler. I'd like to "T" into the sink drain line, but the through hull is at the waterline and the cooler drain would be below the through hull. How do I plumb the cooler into the sink drain line without getting lake water in the cooler bottom? also, do I need a trap in the cooler drain to prevent cool air from draing out the bottom? Diagram would be helpful. Thanks in advance!

 

[Jon Bastien]

I used to have a '78 H25; after much crawling around underneath the cockpit to plumb a larger water tank, I figured out that the ice box was designed to drain direct into the bilge, and let the bilge pump take care of drainage. Because the ice box drain sits below the waterline, there isn't really any way to do a direct-overboard discharge without routing the house to an above-the-waterline fitting and use some kind of pump.

Alternatively, you could install a sump under the floorboards, but there isn't a lot of room for that...

You are correct, though, in that a direct-drain setup will allow cold air to drain directly into the bilge. This can be stopped by using a cork in the drain line, and only opening the drain when you want to drain the box.

On our boat, we left the solid floor intact, and just used a small hand-pump to drain the icebox into the sink. A few swipes with a sponge afterward, and the box is dry.

 

[Db421]

Thanks for the response Jon, I think I've decided on your solution to pump the cooler into the sink. I don't understand the logic of draining the cooler into a very shallow space such as the 3" deep bilge. I'd be up to my ankles in cooler water every morning! Bad design in an otherwise exceptional boat.

 

[ChiTownSail]

I have the same issue. On our boat some genius decided to block the drain with a ton of silicon or something. I was about to drill into it, install a stopper, and just let it drain into the bilge when needed. But we decided to use a red solo cup to empty the water into the sink, then I keep a shammy towel on board and just use that to soak up the rest...its an extra simple solution until the boat gets put back up on the jacks for its hibernation here in a few months...

 

[suds]

Here are some more ideas from an earlier thread

http://forums.hunter.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=140217

 

[KennyH]

I don't use the cooler anymore as the insulation is so poor. I replaced it with a marine cooler under the table. However mine has a pump that pumps the water out of the cooler and into the cockpit where it drains overboard. Worked well for me until I quit using it. Makes great storage for pots and pans.

 

[David in Sandusky]

Pump into the sink

A P.O. installed the pump into the sink solution on Lady Lillie. It works great for us. One of the advantages is that we can choose when to dump th cold water in the bottom of the box - sometimes holding it until we can restock ice is a good solution!