ice box drain pump

[mbills2]

Hi,

I have a 25' 1981 Hunter. The ice box is supposed to drain using the pump switch. It pumped out most of the water but there is still water sitting at the base of the ice box and inside the drain. Is there a way to get all the water out? I'd like to get it all out as it's getting colder and I don't want it to freeze.

I'm a novice so please go easy on me for not knowing.

 

[mbills2]

I just read that some galley sinks have a seacock. I did notice when pumping the water from the ice box that the water went into the galley sink first and then drained out (I hope it drained out). I'm going to check if I have that valve and try switching it off. Does this sound right or should I not do that?

 

[Larry14133]

anti freeze

I would add a little antifreeze to that system.

 

[Ross]

I would add a little antifreeze to that system.

Use cheap vodka.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Yes there's a way to get the last of the water out

But it does require a little manual labor, though. A sponge...a shop vac...any absorbent material you can put into the drain that will wick up some water...pull it out, wring it out, put it back...repeat...

Ross, I thought you were smart enough to know that vodka is worthless as antifreeze.

Yes, straight uncut 80 proof vodka won't freeze at -0-...but cut it just 90-10 with water and it will. So anyone who relies on vodka as an alternative to antifreeze would be just as well off with Kool Aid.

 

[Ron20324]

You don't think Ross ever really poured vodka down the drain... do you?

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Are you suggesting...

...that Ross would recommend that others do something that he wouldn't do???

 

[Ed Schenck]

You have an unusual 1981 H25 I think. What pump switch are you writing about? All the Cherubinis I have worked on simply drain their ice boxes into the bilge. And if it first goes into the sink that is definitely a PO(previous owner) modification. Most of us have plugged the ice box drain and just sponge the water out. You lose too much cold down the drain. If you use frozen gallon jugs for ice you should have very little water. Meanwhile you need to get the water out of the drain tubing somehow. If it is attached to a pump you could disconnect it and let the water out. Where is JC-2, he has had his H25 inside/out?

Oh, and about the galley sink drain. If the drain hose goes out below the waterline then it MUST have a valve. If it goes out at the bootstripe then it should have one(my vanity sink does not).

 

[TimCup]

a little clarification, I suppose, for Ross..

yes, he would use cheap vodka, as Sir Ross is world renowned for thriftiness.....
however-

while he has no problem putting vodka down a drain, it's usually a different drain, and has been filtered through his liver!

cup

 

[Ron20324]

overlooked that...

...that Ross would recommend that others do something that he wouldn't do???

I did overlook that he CAN get it back next spring with a plunger...

 

[mbills2]

I went out there yesterday and I didn't see any valve for the ice box. It looks like the sink is seperate. I guess when I turned the pump on water came up into the sink and then drained out. I'm guessing it drains into the bilge like you said.

btw: where is the bilge located and how do you drain that out?

I like your idea of plugging the drain up and using frozen gallon jugs. Do you just freeze those in your fridge at home? And how many do you use? If you have any more tips please feel free to tell me.

 

[mbills2]

Ok I bought a manual bilge pump to get the water out from under the floor (is this the bilge?). That worked great. I put some antifreeze in the ice box drain just in case I don't get the water drained from it soon enough. I don't know where the drain tube for that goes yet. I'd like to diconnect it and let the water out if possible like you guys were saying. I'm guessing that the "pump" switch on the electrical panel is for the sink drain only although it seemed to drain some of the water from the ice box... so i don't know. So confusing. I wish this boat came with a manual. I've googled for days and still can't find the info I need.