RE: Cockpit drain plug or valve?

Eric Johnson (ej@tx3.com)
Tue, 17 Nov 1998 11:32:03 -0800


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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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> >I used to get so many following seas bubble up through my cockpit that I
> >eventually installed a scupper valve. High and dry ever since. I DONT
> >recommend corking because the cockpit will fill up with rainwater like a
> >bathtub.

> Did you use the one with the lil ping pong ball or the rubber flapper?

Mine is from West Marine and uses a rubber flap. I think I had to buy two to
get the thickness of the mounting flange high enough to clear the mushroom
through-hull underneath.

If I were to do it all over again, I would buy the one in their catalog that
is a larger diameter through-hull with an integral scupper, and upgrade the
cockpit drain at the same time. I've had dog hair clog my tiny cockpit
drain, and a large following sea breaking over the stern could fill the
cockpitmuch faster than the little stock drain system on my 1988 P19 could
ever hope to expel.

I don't have any experience with the ping-ping-ball type, but i suspect it
would interfere with the rudder if your drain is on the centerline like mine
is.