On my first sail I noticed that the water level in the cockpit drain was about 1-1.5" below the cockpit sole while at rest or sailing flat. When I motored at near hull speed, the aft end of the boat squatted down somewhat and water came up on the back foot of the cockpit sole. At this point, I have very little "stuff" on the boat; No battery, no water storage, and etc. The only weighty items are the outboard, gas, and the anchors (which I have stored forward now). When I was out swimming, I noticed that the boat sat on her lines fairly parallel to the water with the bottom of the waterline about an inch above the water. Is this what to normally expect in terms of water level in the drain and when motoring? I remember reading in the SCA M17 review that some have plugged the cockpit drain when sailing with several crew. Is this true? Also has anyone found a check valve that might work in this application? Steve Shenkel M17 (unnamed) Arizona