I have owned my cutter for over 20 years. My ice box drain is getting to be the biggest problem. Does anyone know where it drains to? Any tricks for keeping it unclogged? I hate to think of drilling a new one, as I am against drilling any holes in my boat. Thanks wg
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Ed Schenck
No luck.
Last night, as I was closing up after an evening sail, I remembered to look. By pulling the drawers out I only found a plywood panel over the side of the icebox. And a hole looking into the bilge. But I think if I had a sizeable mirror I could see back under the sole to where the icebox drain comes out. And I think that I would see a hose just running down into the bilge. But how to get at it to clean or replace I have not a clue.
Last night, as I was closing up after an evening sail, I remembered to look. By pulling the drawers out I only found a plywood panel over the side of the icebox. And a hole looking into the bilge. But I think if I had a sizeable mirror I could see back under the sole to where the icebox drain comes out. And I think that I would see a hose just running down into the bilge. But how to get at it to clean or replace I have not a clue.
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Warren
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Bob Miller
Refrig Drain - Progress Report
I took a look at my drain last night. Like the rest of you, it's a pain in my side, too. My 37C is a 1984 model. Maybe they are all the same, maybe not. But here is what I found. Ed, I found exactly what you found under the drawers, but with flashlite and mirrors I couldn't see a thing. The drain in my refrig is a piece of 3/8 copper tubbing flarred at the top end and is about 8 inches long. The reason I know is because the seal at the top is broken so I just pulled the tube out and measured it. Then I stuck a close hanger wire down the hole in an attempt to fish the wire out to where I could see it. No luck the wire was too stiff. I did determine this, though. In the area underneath the refrig, we are talking about three fibreglass walls; the refrig liner, the hull liner and the hull itself. Judging from what I could feel with my wire, there is foam insulation (about 8 inches thick where the drain goes down) between the refrig liner and the hull liner. The copper tubing serves as flow path to get the draining fluid from the refrig through the foam and through a hole in the hull liner and stops there. The space between the hull liner and the hull varies only about 1/2 to 3/4 inch, so it is unlikely that you will see the drain with any mirrors. I put the copper tubing back in place and ran a softer more fexible wire down the drain and was able to feed it all the way out through the drawer opening. I was hoping to pull a rubber or plastic tubing through and plumb it to my shower sump. But the sharp turn at the bottom and small space between the hull liner and hull would make it real difficult and probably just kink the tubing. That's where I left it, for now, while I fall back and regroup. My thought, now, is to pull the copper tubbing out and plug and seal the hole. Then with a long drill bit, drill a new drain hole at an angle that will place the exit somewhere where I can get at it to attach the flexible tubing to plumb to my shower sump. Hope this helps you all. "Gusty Getaway"
I took a look at my drain last night. Like the rest of you, it's a pain in my side, too. My 37C is a 1984 model. Maybe they are all the same, maybe not. But here is what I found. Ed, I found exactly what you found under the drawers, but with flashlite and mirrors I couldn't see a thing. The drain in my refrig is a piece of 3/8 copper tubbing flarred at the top end and is about 8 inches long. The reason I know is because the seal at the top is broken so I just pulled the tube out and measured it. Then I stuck a close hanger wire down the hole in an attempt to fish the wire out to where I could see it. No luck the wire was too stiff. I did determine this, though. In the area underneath the refrig, we are talking about three fibreglass walls; the refrig liner, the hull liner and the hull itself. Judging from what I could feel with my wire, there is foam insulation (about 8 inches thick where the drain goes down) between the refrig liner and the hull liner. The copper tubing serves as flow path to get the draining fluid from the refrig through the foam and through a hole in the hull liner and stops there. The space between the hull liner and the hull varies only about 1/2 to 3/4 inch, so it is unlikely that you will see the drain with any mirrors. I put the copper tubing back in place and ran a softer more fexible wire down the drain and was able to feed it all the way out through the drawer opening. I was hoping to pull a rubber or plastic tubing through and plumb it to my shower sump. But the sharp turn at the bottom and small space between the hull liner and hull would make it real difficult and probably just kink the tubing. That's where I left it, for now, while I fall back and regroup. My thought, now, is to pull the copper tubbing out and plug and seal the hole. Then with a long drill bit, drill a new drain hole at an angle that will place the exit somewhere where I can get at it to attach the flexible tubing to plumb to my shower sump. Hope this helps you all. "Gusty Getaway"
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Ed Schenck
Bob, thanx for the effort.
My problem is that I only see the boat about four hours a week. And when I do I want to sail, not explore. You really did analyze this and it reminds me of a post several months ago. The fellow plugged the drain and uses a simple pump to pull any water into the sink. And you are right about the water under the liner. That explains the water coming out a hole in the side of the bilge the one time I used ice. Is this an issue because you or Warren have refrigeration and it runs all the time? Or is it just occasional melting ice? I really haven't tackled this issue yet because I have a real refrigerator where the stove should be. I also have refrigeration in the icebox that I never use. I've been looking at options like this: /www.askelandinc.com/ or the link below.
My problem is that I only see the boat about four hours a week. And when I do I want to sail, not explore. You really did analyze this and it reminds me of a post several months ago. The fellow plugged the drain and uses a simple pump to pull any water into the sink. And you are right about the water under the liner. That explains the water coming out a hole in the side of the bilge the one time I used ice. Is this an issue because you or Warren have refrigeration and it runs all the time? Or is it just occasional melting ice? I really haven't tackled this issue yet because I have a real refrigerator where the stove should be. I also have refrigeration in the icebox that I never use. I've been looking at options like this: /www.askelandinc.com/ or the link below.
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Bob Miller
Issue
Yes, I do have refrigeration. Not only do I get the constant dripping of melting water, but blood from thawing meat, etc. We use the refrig alot. Sometimes we'll expode a beer or pop can. I'm not sure the issue warrants the fix, though, since the fix looks like alot of trouble. I think I would rather it drain into the bildge than plug it altogether, though. Hope all this helps you, Warren.
Yes, I do have refrigeration. Not only do I get the constant dripping of melting water, but blood from thawing meat, etc. We use the refrig alot. Sometimes we'll expode a beer or pop can. I'm not sure the issue warrants the fix, though, since the fix looks like alot of trouble. I think I would rather it drain into the bildge than plug it altogether, though. Hope all this helps you, Warren.
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David Foster
Pump to the sink
A previous owner installed a line to a pump over the sink in my h27 with the same drain setup. Holding the cold water improves cooling, and the pump means we can empty, or clean it whenever we want. And there is never any refer water in our bilge. David Lady Lillie
A previous owner installed a line to a pump over the sink in my h27 with the same drain setup. Holding the cold water improves cooling, and the pump means we can empty, or clean it whenever we want. And there is never any refer water in our bilge. David Lady Lillie
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Jim Legere
A Universal Issue
I too wondered where the icebox drain went. The one on my 1983 appears to have been plugged with some sort of goop by the previous owner. I currently use ice but plan to install a Cold Machine. Even with ice, I keep the water accumulation to a minimum by 'containerizing' the ice, meat, etc. On my old boat the icebox drained to the bilge and odor was not a problem in our cooler climate.
I too wondered where the icebox drain went. The one on my 1983 appears to have been plugged with some sort of goop by the previous owner. I currently use ice but plan to install a Cold Machine. Even with ice, I keep the water accumulation to a minimum by 'containerizing' the ice, meat, etc. On my old boat the icebox drained to the bilge and odor was not a problem in our cooler climate.
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Charlie Crews
Reefer Drain
Aloha, I have a 1984 37c and have also wondered where the drain ended. My box drain is sealed and requires that I sponge out the bottom weekly. I think this is easier than risking dry rot under the box that could be caused by improper drainage. I look forward to reading that someone has (finally) solved the drain mystery. Another thought is that the box stays colder (I have a refrigeration unit) with the drain closed. Charlie
Aloha, I have a 1984 37c and have also wondered where the drain ended. My box drain is sealed and requires that I sponge out the bottom weekly. I think this is easier than risking dry rot under the box that could be caused by improper drainage. I look forward to reading that someone has (finally) solved the drain mystery. Another thought is that the box stays colder (I have a refrigeration unit) with the drain closed. Charlie
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Warren
some progress
I got as far as Bob, but after I put some drain cleaner down the hose, I blasted it with compressed air. I now have a windshield washer tube and screen acting as a filter to keep all the guk out. Will be away for a week and will see if it continues to drain. Thanks a bunch, but I would still like to know where it drains.
I got as far as Bob, but after I put some drain cleaner down the hose, I blasted it with compressed air. I now have a windshield washer tube and screen acting as a filter to keep all the guk out. Will be away for a week and will see if it continues to drain. Thanks a bunch, but I would still like to know where it drains.
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
Drain cleaner??? Eeek!
Household chemical drain cleaners eat hose....and if your ice box drains into your bilge, it's murder on your bilge pump too. With luck, you didn't do enough damage to matter just once, but DON'T do dat again! If it's still clogged, use Raritan C.P. ...it's marketed as a toilet bowl cleaner, but it's a bio-enzymatic cleaner that's also the best cleaner on the planet for drains and sumps, 'cuz the enzymes "eat" hair, soap scum, grease, and the slimy glop that clogs drains with damaging anything. The little buggers need time to work, so put it down the drain when it can sit in it for a while. And, it may require a couple of treatments...but it will clean out the drain completely.
Household chemical drain cleaners eat hose....and if your ice box drains into your bilge, it's murder on your bilge pump too. With luck, you didn't do enough damage to matter just once, but DON'T do dat again! If it's still clogged, use Raritan C.P. ...it's marketed as a toilet bowl cleaner, but it's a bio-enzymatic cleaner that's also the best cleaner on the planet for drains and sumps, 'cuz the enzymes "eat" hair, soap scum, grease, and the slimy glop that clogs drains with damaging anything. The little buggers need time to work, so put it down the drain when it can sit in it for a while. And, it may require a couple of treatments...but it will clean out the drain completely.
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Jerry
Fix the drain problem by ...
by pulling the copper tube and enlarging the hole through the foam insulation with a long drill bit. I was then able to push flexable tubing through the hole and route it to the shower sump. The tubing will make the turn under the plywood without kinking. I replaced the copper tube with a shorter piece of flaired copper tubing and sealed it in place with Life Calk. I don't remember the size of the tubing but I think it was around 1/4 inch; probably the smallest I could find. Remember to put a loop in the tube to hold some water so cold air does not leak directly out of the ice box. There are two problems with the original drain. It lets any liquid in the bottom of the ice box drain directly into the bilge and lets cold air leak from the ice box. I have refrigeration and the drain mod works great. I occasionally have to blow air back through the tube to unclog it but that is the only problem so far. It is real simple and doesn't take long once you have all the necessary tools and supplies. Jerry s/v Makai
by pulling the copper tube and enlarging the hole through the foam insulation with a long drill bit. I was then able to push flexable tubing through the hole and route it to the shower sump. The tubing will make the turn under the plywood without kinking. I replaced the copper tube with a shorter piece of flaired copper tubing and sealed it in place with Life Calk. I don't remember the size of the tubing but I think it was around 1/4 inch; probably the smallest I could find. Remember to put a loop in the tube to hold some water so cold air does not leak directly out of the ice box. There are two problems with the original drain. It lets any liquid in the bottom of the ice box drain directly into the bilge and lets cold air leak from the ice box. I have refrigeration and the drain mod works great. I occasionally have to blow air back through the tube to unclog it but that is the only problem so far. It is real simple and doesn't take long once you have all the necessary tools and supplies. Jerry s/v Makai
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Bob Miller
I like it - Jerry!
That beats drilling a new hole diagonally, like I was thinking. Best idea, yet.
That beats drilling a new hole diagonally, like I was thinking. Best idea, yet.
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Warren
still working
Spent a week sailing to Block Island and Newport. My icebox still drains. The windshield washer hose and screen catch any sedement, and than I just remove it and blow it out now and than. Thanks for all your help.
Spent a week sailing to Block Island and Newport. My icebox still drains. The windshield washer hose and screen catch any sedement, and than I just remove it and blow it out now and than. Thanks for all your help.
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