Sink Not Draining

[Robin]

We just purchased this boat and for some reason the galley sink is not draining. Can anyone help us with what we can do or look for to find out why??

 

[Alan]

Did you.....

open the valve all the way below the shelf in th cabinet below the sink? I forgot to do this after winter storage and panicked till I remembered this valve

 

[Steve Dion]

Alan's correct!

Cannot be too much wrong. The sink drain directly overboard so either the thru hull is not open or there is something in the drain from the sink to thethru hull.You need to raise the little board in the bottom of the cabinet under the sink to get to the thru hull. Don't forget you have two under the sink in the head. The small one is for the raw water intake to flush the head, the other is to pump the head overboard (only outside the legal limits). You also have one in the compartment behind the engine. That is where the packing gland is located.

 

[Robin]

Thanks

We beleive we opened the valve that you mentioned but we are going to first start by removing the hose attached to the sink bottom to see if there is a blockage. I'll keep you posted.

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

Broken stem ?

Try to turn the valve completely open. If it's an original, chances are you have a "plumbing" style valve. I believe they're called gate valves. If it doesn't stop and keeps turning counter-clockwise, you probably have a valve with a broken stem and it's in the close position. And before dismantling the hose, I would try the old rubber ball that you unclog toilets with. If there is something in the hose, pumping it up and down might just push the blockage through. BTW, if you have that type valves still, I'd suggest installing ball valves. They open or shut in just a quarter turn of the handle, thus making it much safer.Good luck

 

[Steve Dion]

Survey?

Robin:Claude makes a good point. If you still have gate valves you may be correct. You think that they are open because you cannot turn them. If your boat was surveyed and you had gate valves there should have been an indication on the survey that these things should go. When you have a ball valve or seacock you know when they are opened or closed because the handle is inline to the hose when open and perpendicular to the hose when closed.