The drainplug in the bilge is a bit of a mystery as to just how the water is supposed to get to it! Some DS IIs had the drain located off-center, this might ahe "solved" the problem? Anyway..... the drain does seem to take water in sort-of to each side of the hole, I think the direct path from bilge to drain is semi blocked by the "catch-basin" in the cockpit for the "rain gutter" around the cockpit sole, and so water kind of threads it's way into the sides of the drain hole. It DOES work..... has on my boat for the 17 years that I've owned her, but it would seem prone to clogging.
I usually bail the water out through the inspection ports using a small hand pump and/or sponge. I have had various leaks over the years, none right now, thankfully. Water WILL draib through that plug in hte transom ,but it requires lifting the tongue of the trailer high enough, the stern is the shallowest part of the hull and yo uneed to overcome that to get all the water to drain through the plug (why I bail with a sponge through the inspection/bailing ports).
Oh, and always make sure that that bilge drainplug is in place and tight before launching! It may be small, but it lets in a lot of water if you forget it! Experience, the best teacher! <GRIN!>
