Cockpit drains

[surekandoo]

I have a limbo 6.6 which has a large cockpit, with two drains from the stern wall of the cockpit to the transom.

Despite my best efforts at re-routing the pipes from the drains (crossing them, supporting the centre section to prevent a well forming etc.) I still get water coming INTO the cockpit when sailing.

This is more an irritant than a serious problem, but it does mean wet shoes, ropes etc. even on on dry sunny days.

Anyone know of a simple plastic non-return valve which will allow gravity flow in one direction only? I don't think the spring loaded ones fitted to bilge pumps will do the trick. Or am I to resort to a couple of bungs?

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[bruce]

that is about what i do on my daysailor, using trans plugs like on outboard motorboat trans. or, you might try to use a pipe threader to cut some shallow threads and use a threaded cap. just a thought....

<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by bruce on 04/06/2004 19:07 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[fluffc]

er... DO NOT block the cockpit drains! They are there to drain the cockpit; particularly in an emergency after "pooping".

The problem you describe is not uncommon; and you will probably find even more water coming in when motoring. Its' to do with either the boat healing and/or the stern sucking down.

Apparantly it is acceptable to have cockpit drains drain directly into the bilges, or to arrange a pumping system; but bear in mind that a certain percentage (70% I think) of the cockpit volume needs to be discharged to the sea within a set time (3 minutes I think).

If you are getting minimal amounts of water, then you could fit a wooden grid onto the cockpit floor?

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[paulrossall]

I cannot believe it is correct to lead cockpit drains into the bilge. It is a recipe for disaster. Strikes me there maybee too much weight at the back of the boat. Otherwise I would make a grating which is high enough for your shoes to remain dry.

<hr width=100% size=1>" there is nothing-absolutely nothing-half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats".

 

[William_H]

I agree with Paul a far better fix would be to move weight forward especially people if you can. The transom is obviously low in the water causing drag. Get someone to take a photo as you sail or better still get someone else to sail while you look at it from the side I will bet you are surprised how high the bow is and how low the stern is. regards will

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[mirabriani]

I have a friend with a Limbo who has the same problem also present on others I have seen. I suspect it is inherant in the design.
A previous owner has tried (unsuccessfully) to solve the problem by moving the drains. In my opinion you either have to live with it or fit grating to the cockpit floor
Hope this is helpful, Briani

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[bob_tyler]

Invicta 26 with two cockpit drains both exiting through the transom about 6 inches above water level..

Both had rubber (neoprene) flaps, attached with one screw at the top, on the outside of the transom. One flap has gone missing and, when motoring, water now flows into the cockpit at speed, not when sailing.

Have bought a small sheet of neoprene from an inflatable boat dealer and will fix it when I dry out for a routine 5 yr Insurance Survey in a couple of weeks. Awkward to scew on from the dinghy as it is a sloping transom.

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[oldsaltoz]

G'day Richard,

Crossing the drain lines should help, but, what do you mean when you say you have to support the centre; is the outlet from the cockpit at the same level as the holes in the transom?

If you have no fall in the lines you will get water into the cockpit no matter what you do, as the hole in the transom lifts when tacking any water left in it will back-drain to the cockpit, not a lot of water, but enough to be a pain.

Avagoodweekend.....



<hr width=100% size=1> Old Salt Oz /forums/images/icons/cool.gif Growing old is unavoidable. However, growing up is still optional.

 

[happynelly]

My swin ranger has such a valve fitted but there is nothing to indicate manufacturer. It needs to be cleaned a couple of time per year as it does collect debris but otherwise works fine.

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[surekandoo]

What sort of valve? Some idea of size/material would be useful. Any chance of a digital picture?

Thanks

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[surekandoo]

There seems to be little or no fall between the skin fittings in the cockpit and those on the transom, and those in the cockpit are about 2" centres above the floor of the cockpit, so that once the water's got in, it stays there until the level reaches the level of the drains. I suspect it's a design fault as one of the other respondants has suggested.


Originally hoses connecting drains to transom were straight, with a slight dip in them. I decided that the dip was acting as a "pump" each time the boat heeled.
This season I tried putting new hoses in and crossing them but it made matters worse. I suspect this was because of "droop" in the hose exascerbating the "pumping" effect.

I don't fancy a grid, because it makes cleaning difficult. If I can't find a suitable one way valve, I'm returning to hoses connected directly (rather than crossed) to the adjacent transom skin fitting with no "droop", and two rubber bungs with lanyards attached for quick removal.

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[Guest]

Bungs likely will not work !

Unless you put them in from outside ...... if you put in normal press bungs in the cockpit side the pressure as the water pumps in the pipe will pop the bungs as sure as eggs is eggs .... try leaving the sink outlet open, sink plug in and then heel the boat to the outlet side !! If its anything like mine .. where the outlet is at wtaerline when level, it pops when heeled ....


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/

 

[bob_tyler]

I suggest you pop in to your nearest inflatable/rib dealer and cadge an offcut of neoprene

Cut out a piece just larger than the exit of the cockpit drains and fit it outside the transom over one of the drains. If this stops the water coming back in, you've solved the problem.

One of my drains, port, lost its flap during layup. The water comes in. The other drain, starboard, only lets water out as the external pressure (which blows Nigel's sink plug out) keeps the flap shut.. QED

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