Rain Accumulation in Cockpit

[Laurie]

This is showing my newess to owning a boat, but am planning on keeping my newly acquired 1973 Cat22 in a marina slip for the rest of the summer until I find a decent trailer. I've never done this before, and feel kinda dumb asking, but...Do I keep the floor scuppers open to keep rain draining out in the event of a severe rain storm? I plan on installing an automatic bilge pump in the bilge area this weekend, but the problem would really start in the outside cockpit. Or would that be a better place to put it? Or is a boat cover the best way to go? What is the opinion about installing transom scuppers? Thanks for any advice.

 

[Ed P]

Open ? By All Means !!!

Ahoy Laurie, By all means, keep the scupper drains open. If the cockpit fills, the boat spills !! However, even when open, you should plan on checking on your boat at least once a week to make sure they haven't been clogged by leaves, etc. And, more often if you're in an area with heavy rain. The scuppers will drain the cockpit, but very slowly since they empty on the underside of the hull.Good Luck and enjoy your "new" boat.Ed P. "See Da Moon" S/N 13106

 

[Shawn]

Transom scuppers

Hi Laurie, If you are concerned about leaving your drain open or worried that it might clog or not drain fast enough in a heavy rain, you might want to consider transom scuppers. These littel jewels don't clog as easily as floor drains and will bail water as fast as it accumulates because there isn't any water pressure on the back side to slow down the flow. You can install a set by yourself in half an hour and they are cheap too. All you need is a drill with a hole saw attachment or an appropriate sized Forstner bit, some PCV pipe and some epoxy. Thats it! Check out Ted's website at http://sites.netscape.net/tedsailingpage/home.html click on "completed projects" Ted tells in detail how to install these scuppers as well as many other projects and cool ideas for your Cat 22. Hope this helps and good luck with your new boat. Shawn

 

[Tom]

Keep Em Open

Keep them open. I keep my boat docked at a marina during the summer. One thing I do is keep a tarp over the boom and tied off to keep most of the rain and sun out of the cockpit.

 

[john renfro]

rain

hi laurie, leave the drains open, and if you have a sink drain hooked to the scupper drains close it so that a blocked through hull fitting won't let water back up into the cabin

 

[Laurie]

Thanks for All the Suggestions!

After the rains we had this past week, I'm going to do it all. And I loved Ted's site even before I bought the boat! I'm sure I'll have more questions (and input to subsequent newbies) as time goes on! Thanks!