Cockpit drains

[Carduelis]

I have a Westerly Konsort Duo. The boat has a deep cockpit well (usually covered with a board) which is handy for keeping the inflatable dinghy in etc.

I've noticed that it tends to take in water through the cockpit drains. The outlets can go below water level when the stern 'squats' under power.

On investigation, I discover that both drain pipes form a "U bend" along their length so that they are never clear of water. They are otherwise unobstructed and flow freely.

Surely this isn't right?

My initial reaction was to re-route the hoses so that they can drain empty; but on investigation I found that they are routed through bulkhead holes and must have been 'designed' like that - or like it from new anyway...

Comments anyone?

 

[Mirelle]

Umm. The usual "remedy" is to cross the drains over so that the port hand drain exits via the starboard seacock, etc, which reduces the back flooding under sail, but I doubt it would help much under power.

Never come across a U bend before and it certainly seems "wrong" to me.

There is a rather posh American fitting made by ABI which consists of a ball valve incorporated into the drain fitting so as to prevent water flooding back - Classic Marine stock it. It would presumably effect a cure.

 

[philip_stevens]

My Duo, and all the Duo's I have heard about, have the same problem. My outlets are normally underwater due to having 2 extra batteries, and a locker full of "extras" including 2 anchors, extra fuel, etc.

Another safety problem you may not realise about, is that the gas leakage drain is via the same water-filled tubes!!

I have overcome this problem with altering the gas box with a blank side into the cockpit, and a new "above water" drain out of the transom. I will be submitting this alteration to the WOA autumn newsletter.

The U bend as you describe it, is in fact a non-return valve that is completely useless. I have had mine out and serviced it, to no avail. New bronze non-return valves are quite expensive.

From all the reports on Duo's, no-one appears to have come up with a remedy - other than using it to paddle in when underway!

You could put your post onto the WOA website and also post it on the discussion group to see if anyone has come up with a new idea.

Discussion List

 

[Guest]

I don't have a Konsort ... but have drains that back-flood when under power....

Both my drain lines run straight to transom with valves on each to close off when under power.

I would never fit an auto non-return valve into any such fitting - as so often dirt / grit / leaves are taken down the drains that a NR valve would fail easily. So an item you think is going to stop back-flooding in fact doesn't.