Gas vent hose routing

[dickh]

On a Moody 33 mk2. Just redoing the gas locker to comply with regs. Gas box is in the port cockpit locker, the vent is from the base.
1) Should I route the vent hose directly to the side of the boat, about 4 feet away, when it will be about 6-9" above the waterline(guestimated position at this time) or 2) Should I route it around the locker, through the rear cabin and then to the transom?
I like 1) as it is easy and will probably only take about ½hr. but I worry wether water will be forced up the hose when on starboard tack.
I also like 2) but will probably take much longer; the hose will have to have a gradual slope all the way to the transom, and I'm not sure wether I can do this without the outlet being on the waterline.
What have others done?

 

[Guest]

My locker was raised to bring the base higher .... then a simple pipe with lever valve fitted direct out hull .... with a slight incline on I should say ....

The valve can then always be used if you do find water gets in ... with a notice displayed to remind to open again ....

It is always difficult to sort these things against all eventualities ... and solutions have to be found. I have actually never closed my valve - even though the outlet is only a couple of inches above the W/L .... port transom. I think it may stay dry due to moving forward and effective wtaer height being lower ???? Even when healed to port .... I haven't noticed water in the locker ... and I store all sorts else in there ... grease tin for stern gland, small spanner for regulator etc. etc.

 

[VicS]

When you say vent you mean drain presumably although there must also be a vent!

The drain must fall all the way to its outlet and there is a minimum specified height above the waterline for the outlet.

Two sources of information online are:

http://www.socal.co.uk/marinenotes.html

http://www.calormarineshop.co.uk/

Same author, I think.

You will find all the info you need including the pipe sizes etc. I think the first reference is the better of the two. Look at the sailing and boating news article.

 

[macd]

I've recently built a new gas locker, causing me to check up on what was required. You certainly seem to have a grip on the basic requirements. As I understand it the drain should come from the bottom of the locker (pretty obviously) and be routed steadily downhill to exit comfortably above the waterline AT ALL ANGLES OF HEEL. In the case of a locker draining to one side rather than the stern, this might require two drains, one to each side, as I had to contrive.

 

[boatmike]

Frankly on a sailboat its not that critical so long as the locker is above the WL. One way to avoid water ingress is by a "horizontal gooseneck" Take a plastic tube from the bottom of the locker horizontally to port as far as possible then to starb'd skin fitting (or vice versa). Ever if you put the skin fitting under water the loop will still be above WL preventing water ingress.

 

[dickh]

Thanks everyone, I have read the regs and see that the outlet must be 75mm above the loaded waterline - but I didn't see the requirement for 'AT ALL ANGLES OF HEEL' - if this is a requirement then it can only go out thro' the transom........
I'll check again this weekend and try and drain thro' the transom.

 

[ShipsWoofy]

When retro fitting I think there has to be an element of 'doing what you can'. My locker drains straight down through the bridge deck, (catamaran), there are times when water will lap the outlet.

The other options were just plain wrong for my design of boat. Speaking to corgi surveyors, non of whom could get to me BTW. They said older boats were not designed with the regulations in mind, we have to make as is as good as possible.

Do remember the pipe you are about to send to the transom has to be minimum 19mm fuel grade hose. Go and price it, then route it out of the side /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[macd]

So far as I know 'AT ALL ANGLES OF HEEL' isn't an official requirement, just good practice. Clearly if you're on a tack with the outlet underwater, then it isn't going to drain anything lighter than seawater. This may be no worry darting about your local estuary, but could well be on a long passage. It's no consolation if your last breath is 'but it met all the regs'