RE: Help with Drain Tube

Gribskov, Jon R (jrgribsk@ingr.com)
Thu, 8 Oct 1998 08:11:51 -0500


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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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I just finished repairing mine this weekend. I found that both plastic
thruhulls and the hose were cracked, and water was indeed getting into the
bilge. Worse, water could have been penetrating into the wood in the
transom and the cockpit deck, which could eventually have caused local
delamination in those areas.

Here's what I used, all purchased from West Marine:
1" Wood Bit(The one-inch holes in hull and transom need to be reamed
slightly for the thruhulls I used. A 1-1/16" or 1-1/8" bit would have worked
better.)

3/4" Bronze Mushroom Head--Barbed Thruhull, West Marine part number 356453,
Perko 350005PLB, Quantity 2 required. I could have used a 90 degree barbed
thruhull on the cockpit end, and that would have kept the hose run
straighter.

Series 148 Heavy-Duty Vinyl Hose. Get 2 feet to start and cut to fit. Use
enough hose to bend in a big S-Curve. I don't think the original hose
(Bilgeflex hose) was adequate to the task, and the reinforced clear PVC
tubing, which I also tried, collapses if forced into a bend. The heavy-duty
hose is slightly smaller in diameter, and I had to lubricate (soap) and heat
the ends of the hose(used a heat gun) to get it on the thruhulls.

4 Hose Clamps (The stern fitting is under water when the boat is in motion,
so I use double hose clamps at each end.

Sikaflex Polysulfide Bedding Compound

I think my repair will be permanent, more durable, and with better drainage
than the original. Overkill? Probably.

Jon R. Gribskov
P-19 #233, 'DC Blues'
Washington Sailing Marina (Potomac River)
Arlington, VA

-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Fletcher [mailto:richard.fletcher@worldnet.att.net]
Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 1998 7:04 PM
To: WWPotter Mailing List
Subject: Help with Drain Tube

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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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Greetings to all Potters, it's me again...bugging everyone with
questions ;-) Someday, after soaking up this knowledge, I will be able
to share with other novices as you have shared with me. Now to the
question - has anyone out there done any repairs to the cockpit drain
tube? Mine has a leak around the circumference at the hull as well (I
think) as the cockpit. I know that I am getting water into the bilge
from this leak. I wish to repair it properly and would like any
suggestions, experiences or whatever anyone has to offer. I've got some
ideas, but they are all seem kind of amateurish. Thanks to all in
advance and fair winds!

Dick Fletcher
P15 #667