2001 princess 38 flybrige drain

[Amour]

Anybody know how to gain access to the pipe running from drain at rear of flybridge to clear out

 

[tico]

Sorry, no idea. Have just cleared it out with a hose in the past.
Presumably access to hose via cockpit roof panel.

 

[John100156]

I have a similar problem from the FB on my 2002 P45. I have used a small pressure washer and small air compressor from the top, drain cleaner and Agua Fuerta (acid) but still cannot get the blooming blockage to clear.

I will be using a rotary flexible wire drain rod next time out, a draw wire seems to go down several metres, so I expect the blockage may have been forced down nearer to the outlet to the skin fitting which seems logical.

Why Princess did not put a cage/grate over the drains on the FB I will never know. I certainly will fit one if/when I get it cleared.

The gulls in SC seem to drop some form of berries/nuts/shells occasionally, which I reckon must have got washed down and eventually blocked the pipe.

As far as I could see, the pipe runs down above/along the cockpit soffit and then drops down through to below deck to the lazaret, to arrive at the skin fitting fitted very tight behind the STB battery bank (port side has even worse access, its behind the fresh water tank). So I can't get decent access to the skin fitting/elbow, or any rods through the elbow on the skin from outside, its really starting to annoy me.

So, its the drain wire next time out and perhaps see if anyone in the marina has a high pressure compressor (fortunately we have a Walcon finger to STB) so I can try to pressurise it from the skin fitting to try to dislodge or get things moving....

Mind you, it is amusing to see SWMBO lounging in her favorite corner in the cockpit reading a book, when the wind blows and showers her, I may miss that

 

[Moonstruck]

Hi, when we had our P45 in Majorca the flybridge drains regularly blocked with the frequent mud rain that occurs. I found trying to clean from the top was impossible but if I put the hose into the exit drain on the lower rear of the hull sides and squirted water up towards the flybridge it cleared it every time. Hope this helps!

 

[Hurricane]

I have a similar problem from the FB on my 2002 P45. I have used a small pressure washer and small air compressor from the top, drain cleaner and Agua Fuerta (acid) but still cannot get the blooming blockage to clear.

I will be using a rotary flexible wire drain rod next time out, a draw wire seems to go down several metres, so I expect the blockage may have been forced down nearer to the outlet to the skin fitting which seems logical.

Why Princess did not put a cage/grate over the drains on the FB I will never know. I certainly will fit one if/when I get it cleared.

The gulls in SC seem to drop some form of berries/nuts/shells occasionally, which I reckon must have got washed down and eventually blocked the pipe.

As far as I could see, the pipe runs down above/along the cockpit soffit and then drops down through to below deck to the lazaret, to arrive at the skin fitting fitted very tight behind the STB battery bank (port side has even worse access, its behind the fresh water tank). So I can't get decent access to the skin fitting/elbow, or any rods through the elbow on the skin from outside, its really starting to annoy me.

So, its the drain wire next time out and perhaps see if anyone in the marina has a high pressure compressor (fortunately we have a Walcon finger to STB) so I can try to pressurise it from the skin fitting to try to dislodge or get things moving....

Mind you, it is amusing to see SWMBO lounging in her favorite corner in the cockpit reading a book, when the wind blows and showers her, I may miss that

On our P67, John, Princess did fit some covers/filters over the FB drains.
See here


They used the same fitting that they also used in the bathroom showers.
These lift out for cleaning.

I once left them out for a short period and those pesky "bird nuts" washed in.
Luckily for me, they trapped in one of the (what I call) "scuppers".
A few years ago, we did some work on the exhausts that meant removing the silencers and this was what we found behind:-



Simple fix whilst that silencers was out but it taught me a lesson - keep those covers/filters in place.

There is a similar drain beside the fuel fillers where, again, those pesky "bird nuts" can fall through the drain.
A quick visit to the local Chinese hardware shop solved the problem - a "drop in" sink filter with smaller holes that stop the nuts.
In fact, I siliconed the "drop in" sink filter permanently.
Sorry no pics but have a look under JW's fuel flaps and then pop into one of the Chinese shops.

 

[sharpness]

Same problem on my 2003 P45 with the Flybridge drains getting blocked.
As Moonstruck suggests, way to tackle it is from the skin fitting outlet on the side of the hull.
I personally use a electric cable puller, pushing through the skin fitting outlet. The blockage is usually very close to this outlet due to the 90 degree skin fitting used.

Pic below shows an example of the cable puller.

 

[oldgit]

and not just Princess.

 

[tico]

Thanks for the info.... will file it away for when mine get blocked. (fingers crossed that they wont.)

 

[John100156]

Thanks to Tico for raising this issue and for all other(s) advice. I have used a cable puller (draw cable) from the top, but found it hard to wiggle around elbow from outside skin fitting (could be because blockage is there of course which is logical) may revert to trying again from there also try some HP air, elbow absorbs most of the energy from a wet pressure washer.

Failing that its one of these for SWMBO I reckon:





Out to SC again on 18th Jan - we shall see what transpires!

 

[tico]

Actually it was Amour that raised it but since we both have a P38 the kudos should go to him,
I never realised that it would be an issue, but now i'm aware i'll make up a pair of filter covers

 

[sharpness]

Thanks to Tico for raising this issue and for all other(s) advice. I have used a cable puller (draw cable) from the top, but found it hard to wiggle around elbow from outside skin fitting (could be because blockage is there of course which is logical) may revert to trying again from there also try some HP air, elbow absorbs most of the energy from a wet pressure washer.

Failing that its one of these for SWMBO I reckon:

View attachment 170040



Out to SC again on 18th Jan - we shall see what transpires!

Unfortunately I've found the only way to successfully clear a blockage was by pushing the cable puller through the skin fitting outlet on the hull. Trying it the other way, from the flybridge drain, resulted in the cable puller getting stuck / hitting the skin fitting 90 degree bend as you've unfortunately discovered.
If your mooring is med style, then trying to access this skin fitting outlet won't be an easy task. If you have a pontoon side on mooring, then it's much easier.
It's frustrating to think that such a common fault with the Flybridge drain blocking, there isn't a fool proof solution.

 

[John100156]

Fortunately, I can easily access the STB skin fitting as you can see from below and did try with a nylon cable puller without success. I will persevere and try once again... :

 

[stelican]

Had similar but only 8ft Hoover hose absolutely rammed solid by wife's attempt to clear with broom handle.
I eventually managed to clear using a mousing wire with bent nail attached to end.
I pushed the opposite end of mousing wire through blockage and then worked away at
blockage pulling bent nail at blockage.

 

[Amour]

All sorted put hose into skin fitting then all the crap came out of the top

 

[Moonstruck]

All sorted put hose into skin fitting then all the crap came out of the top

Well done, as said previously always worked for me that way as well.

 

[John100156]

Having tried a pressure washer and draw wire recently with no success, despite high winds out here in Sant Carles today, I jammed a fresh water hose into the skin fitting, after a minute or two (and getting drenched) it pushed the crud including bird nuts out through the port flybridge drain , I will launch the dinghy and do the starboard side drain tomorrow and as Hurricane had suggested I will insert a strainer at each outgo on the FB.....!

Thanks for advice, it seems obvious now to backward flush but I would have though a PW from above would have also done the trick - WRONG! The crud works its way to the lowest point, the elbow on the skin fitting.

SWMBO had washed and straightened her hair this morning, having monitored the FB end she now looks like a Gorgon, costing me highlights and a blow-dry booked at a local hairdressers....!

 

[John100156]

Launched dinghy this morning to access the port fb drains skin fitting, pressure from the water hose did not clear the blockage, so I reverted to the nylon draw wire again. After about 10 mins of rodding a gush of water came through, so back flushed with clean water: about six bird nuts and loads of crud came out…!

Both drains now fully cleared and about to receive some grates to outgoes to prevent reoccurrence.

Many Thanks to OP and all those that contributed!