Spirit is a 2008 M-17 that had Whale "one way" valves in the cockpit drain lines. Last year during a stiff breeze in San Francisco Bay I became very concerned when water kept washing into the cockpit through the drains - but didn't seem to be draining back out. After the sail I turned a water hose on the cockpit while the boat was on the trailer, Even with the bow tilted WAY up, water just dribbled out of the cockpit drains. Were it not for water draining through the centerboard pennant hole the cockpit would have turned into a Jacuzzi. So... I took the drains apart believing the valves were broken, clogged, or maybe even installed backwards. Nope! Everything was fine - these gadgets simply don't function correctly in this application. Even wide open they restrict the flow by about 40%. My solution was to remove the "valves" and simply replace the whole assembly with a hose. To keep water out I use Seafit 1-1/4" brass "Flip Lock Drain Plugs" with the adjustment screwed in to the max. They work perfectly and look real shippy. http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/ 10001/-1/10001/17664/377%20710/0/plugs/Primary%20Search/mode% 20matchallpartial/70/0?N=377%20710&Ne=0&Ntt=plugs&Ntk=Primary% 20Search&Ntx=mode% 20matchallpartial&Nao=70&Ns=0&keyword=plugs&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=6& subdeptNum=502&classNum=698 Although, if I'd known about Kayak plugs I would have tried them first because they're even simpler. To plug the outboard fuel line hole I use a 1-1/4" Seafit T-Handled Drain Plug: http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/ 10001/-1/10001/13679/377%20710/0/plugs/Primary%20Search/mode% 20matchallpartial/70/0?N=377%20710&Ne=0&Ntt=plugs&Ntk=Primary% 20Search&Ntx=mode% 20matchallpartial&Nao=70&Ns=0&keyword=plugs&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=6& subdeptNum=502&classNum=698 The strategy is to keep the plugs in place during normal sailing, and pop them out (which takes less then a second) when things get bouncy. Yes, water washes in - but it washes out again. Anyone who does serious sailing on a micro-cruiser should have decent sea boots anyway. Ball Valves are cool but they take up locker space, are slower to access, are more expensive, and require regular maintenance or they'll freeze up. That's when the handles break off (especially if you panic and hit them with a hammer). Jim On May 14, 2009, at 4:24 PM, Tom Jenkins wrote:
Hi gang,
Every boat has a distinctive personality (one reason I love them), and I am discovering my 17 bit by bit. I got in a big blow yesterday, and enough water backed into the cockpit to give me cold feet had the water not been warm. The drain hoses have devices that might be one-way valves half way through the aft locker, and I am wondering if other owners have found that these keep all the water out. If so, I will have to take the things apart and find the problem. A final, if not as elegant (or safe) a solution, would be to use expanding rubber plugs in the cockpit openings, but I cannot find one of the proper size in my catalogs. Has anyone found a source? A big old soft rubber cork would probably work, but I am afraid a surge might pop one out. Another thing I noticed was a bit of water around the fuel tank in the aft locker. I assume a following wave took a whack high on the transom and shoved water past the fuel hose; has anyone experienced this and come up with an elegant solution? I know this subject was brought up awhile back, but I don't have the emails and I was not focused on the subject at the time.
Thanks in advance for your comments.
Tom Jenkins 2004 M17 Scintilla _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
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