Where does the icebox drain into?

[ybrad]

Got my first galleyside look into the icebox today. Tried to gently run a snake down into the drain to see where it dumped, but only encountered some resistance....best described as 'what it feels like if you run a snake into foam'.
Wondered if the PO had sealed it or ???

Out of work time for today, but wanted to get some input before proceeding. Anyone familiar with the icebox plumbing on this (1980 37C)??

Thanks.

 

[navigator97]

Ybrad, I'm not sure about te 1980 H-37, but on the 1990 H-33.5 that I have, the icebox drain, and the sink drainboard drain both went into the bilge. Also going into the bilge was the shower drain (in the head). Not a good thing, but thats what Hunter did. It wouldn't surprise me if yours also goes into the bilge. Look for about a 3/4" hose dangling into the bilge.

On my H-33.5, I put in a atwood sump with the shower drian goimg to it and the icebox drain going to it. The output of the sump is then pumped (thru a check valve)to a manafold at the seacock wnere the galley sink drains. Also going to that manifold (3 inputs) is the drainboard drain. The third input to the manifold is the sink drain. Of course the output of the manifold goes to the seacock. Hope this helps a little.

 

[rivettw]

Ybrad,
I've got a '79 H37C . The "ice"box drain on mine did the same as yours. Went nowhere. PO plugged it. It now is routed behind the stove cabinet on the starboard side, does a seal loop and ties into the sink drain outlet before the seacock going out.
Wally

 

[Jim Legere]

How to get at the drain?

Hi Wally,

How did you get at the bottom of the ice box to connect your new drain line going to the sink seacock? On my 1983 H37C the drain also goes nowhere and I too have plugged it (and bail out the icebox as necessary).

 

[Ken Palmer]

Re: How to get at the drain?

I owned a 1981 Hunter 33 and the icebox drained to the bilge via a hose under the galley sink cabinet floor. I forgot to put anti-freeze down the hose one year causing it to burst when the ice expanded. I ended up also blocking the drain to prevent water from getting onto the galley floor. I sold the boat and the new owner tore the sink cabinet down to replace the hose.

Funny how they build a boat around something making it neatly impossible to repair.

 

[Ed Schenck]

A hose with a trap like Wally's is the best solution. It will keep the cold from leaking out which was the problem with the original, a short hose that drained into the bilge. Many of us, Jim and I included, simply plugged the drain hole. With refrigeration there is not that much water, a sponge takes care of it. Using ice it might be a little more work.

It must have been a real job getting a hose from the drain and behind the stove. Not a problem if you have cut out the panel under the stove. Some have done that, great storage place.

 

[rivettw]

Hi Wally,

How did you get at the bottom of the ice box to connect your new drain line going to the sink seacock? On my 1983 H37C the drain also goes nowhere and I too have plugged it (and bail out the icebox as necessary).

Jim,
Like Mr. Ed sais (coonass talk), my stove/oven and metal firewall were already out to be replaced with Origo alcohol stove and extra cabinets. Easy access. Now after going through some of Ed's older modifications I might just go with a dorm fridge like he did. Old boats are like old men, always a work in progress....or so my wife says.
Wally

 

[Benny]

The only solution I have found to repair burst cooler drain hoses is to insert and run a slightly smaller hose inside the burst one. I guess the alternative is to rip out cabinetry and sole. They usually drain to the bilge.

 

[DianaOfBurlington]

This is one application for which I would have used PVC-- and with a drain trap as Ed's has. PVC tends to last longer and endure more abuse than hose and hose clamps do. However it does not like to be full of frozen water; so if you have a trap (with no drain in it) you'd need to blow it out or at least fill it with pink antifreeze in winter.

I have a lot of PVC on my boat, in hard-to-replace places, and it's fine. My cooler is just a cooler, but it drains out the bottom into a sink-drain fitting in the floor which is plumbed to the bilge with PVC.

 

[David in Sandusky]

Our h27 Solution

A PO rigged a hose to the drain at the bottom of our icebox. The hose runs up to a pump/faucet mounted outboard of the standard sink water fixture with the outlet over the sink.

We can leave the cold water in the box if we want its cooling effect. But a little pumping a few times a day will control the water in the bottom of the box to a minimum level.

 

[sandpiper10471]

Rivettw - you mention metal firewall around the stove. I don't think I have one. Was this stock? Exactly where was this firewall?

 

[svtadpole]

The coolbox in my Hunter 27 ( "coolbox is optimistic since there is no insulation ) drains into the bilge .... yukkk
I plugged the drain hole with a rubber bung &, instead of putting ice bags (they always leak ! ) or ice blocks straight into the coolbox I put them into a plastic bucket then put the plastic bucket into the coolbox .... the plastic bucket retains all the meltwater & a quick sponge out / wipe takes care of the condensation ...

 

[Ed Schenck]

Metal firewall? How do you know that you had one Wally? My boat already had the dorm fridge installed when I bought her. There was no evidence of any "firewall" but I guess it is possible.

 

[rivettw]

Sandpiper and Mr Ed.,
Original stove and gimballed oven was a pressured alcohol with tank in cabinet to the starboard of the sink. PO. converted to propane with 5 gal. propane tank just sitting on the starboard cockpit seat. Not to attractive. Metal firewall surrounded the opening for the oven, 3 sided and bottom. When checking out the propane system I found several fittings just barely hand tight and would not hold pressure. Scared me a little since I'de seen a friend's boat go up then down with leaking propane. Removed the firewall, rebuilt cabinet front , ran new drain from ice box, got the two teak louvered doors from Thailand, lots more storage, installed non pressured alcohol Origo 2 burner stove. Didn't plan on cooking a roast. Will post a pic when I get back to boat. Just had surgery on an elbow so contortions in cabinets are limited.
Wally
Wally

 

[ybrad]

Thanks for the inputs and insight. Looks like the winning ticket is going to be tapered rubber plug to seal the drain for now. That with bailing the meltwater will suffuce until this can be seriously addressed. There are very limited 'work' days prior to planned the departure for Miami; other areas are higher priority.

 

[rivettw]

ybrad,
Just say'in....Have a good trip. Got two sons coming in from Iraq at the same time so we'll be spending some time on the water too dodging tar balls.
Wally

 

[ialmostdid]

drain

right to the bildge:dance:

 

[Steve Dion]

Put some food coloring in a bucket of water and pour it down the icebox to see where it is coming in to the bilge.