Bilge Drain Plugged

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davenpom

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May 19, 2012
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Fluid Motion Model
C-288 C
Vessel Name
Sultana
I couple years ago I noticed that the drain plug on on my R29 doesn't drain. I've tried sticking coat hangers and other small probes in there. Little bits of foam and wood come out. It seems as if it never drained.

I shrink wrap the boat for the winter so it's not been an issue. But I would like to have the added security of pulling the plug and knowing if anything gets in there that it would drain.

I just wanted to take a drill bit and drill from the outside in. Wondering if that would work. Someone told me it might be a "box drain" and that would not work.

Any help would be appreciated.
 
I assume you are talking about the bronze plug on the outside of the hull? On my R-27 it goes directly into the bilge right near the lower bilge pump. You should be able to see it if you look along side of it. I do not understand why you would not see built up debris by just looking down in that location and then being able to pull the stuff out. Perhaps the R-29 is different.
 
Not wishing to co-opt this thread, but when tightening the drain plug what is the correct finishing torque ? My method per Kenny Marrs watching him was to screw it in by hand to the point it can't be screwed in any longer and then using a wrench put no more than a 1/4 turn more. The plug is a tapered screw threaded bolt and is self sealing so there's no need for any plumber's tape etc.
 
davenpom":2az4q5bd said:
I couple years ago I noticed that the drain plug on on my R29 doesn't drain. I've tried sticking coat hangers and other small probes in there. Little bits of foam and wood come out. It seems as if it never drained.

I shrink wrap the boat for the winter so it's not been an issue. But I would like to have the added security of pulling the plug and knowing if anything gets in there that it would drain.

I just wanted to take a drill bit and drill from the outside in. Wondering if that would work. Someone told me it might be a "box drain" and that would not work.

Any help would be appreciated.

N.B. I would not drill into that hole.

It's possible there's not any bilge water to drain out. 😉 You can check by pouring some water purposely into the bilge near to the drain plug to convince yourself if it's blocked or not.

Alternatively, using another person looking down into the bilge where the drain plug is and then poke your coat hanger wire through the drain plug hole and see if the other person can see it, or use a flash light instead of a wire.

As an aside, when I was at the Ranger Tug's Kent factory a week or so back they were covering an R-25SC with a large white canopy. It had many little strings attached around the edge of the canopy and wondered if this was 'shrink wrap'. However, it did not seem to me to be so. I asked if they had a similar canopy for an R-21EC but sadly there was not. It would be a wonderful way for protecting the whole boat when on the hard and on a trailer.
 
The drain is located in the lower keel area by your aft bilge pump. If you are sticking a coat hanger in with some one top side they should be able to see it by the bilge pump. If there is construction debris in the bilge I would suggest using a wet vac to get it all out.
 
I would definitely NOT recommend that you go after it with a drill. The hole bored through the transom is glassed/lined - if you use a drill or other sharp object it is possible that you could nick or damage the gelcoat to the point where water present in the bilge could start soaking into the transom core. (assuming the transom is cored construction).

A bright light in the bilge should allow you to look through the drain hole and identify any debris that may still be present.
 
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