Scupper Flaps

[Bobby P.]

Each time it rains we seem to get a lot of dribble down into the engine compartment. We traced it down to a pattern of water not draining out through the scuppers. Even though I clean my drains and flush line regularly, I think the fact is that the rubber flappers at the extrusion end are so stiff that they not only trap minor debris, but also reduce the rate at which water can exit the drain hoses.

Has anyone just removed the rubber flaps? This is not a self bailing feature and the fact the the exit of water is gravity driven leads me to believe the rubber flaps serve no real purpose.

Any thoughts on this are appreciated

Thanks,
Bobby

 

[2islanders]

I had a similar problem when I washed the deck down with a hose and thought the same thing as you. I tried to soften the flappers up and looked for replacements and then gave up with no success on either option. I removed the flappers last spring and have not had a problem since and no issues with them
removed.


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[knotflying]

Did you remove the screens from the drains at the deck? That tends to help. In general IMO a better raining system is warranted. The gutters are not deep enough or wide enough and the drains are too small.

 

[Bobby P.]

Thanks fir the responses. I removed the drain screens shortly after purchase.

If no one can see a reason not to, I’m going to remove the flaps on scuppers next.

Bobby

 

[BB marine]

The flaps are to eliminate back flushing. Similar to the exhaust tip cover flaps. The flaps act as a one way valve to allow water out but not in. To be cautious I would see what the elevation difference is between the deck troughs and the thru hull drains that you are removing the flaps from. On my C26 there is not that much difference in elevation. In a heavy chop following sea at hull speed I have actually had water coming in my transom door and flooding part of the cockpit with water. In a situation like that I would have had water back flushing my drains without the flaps. This issue has happened twice so it is not common because I usually do not go out in sea's like that. We all make bad decisions a couple times until we learn. The deck drains are of poor design. A good Idea in theory but not practical in use. I have often thought about putting real cockpit drains (self Bailing) but we have a full enclosure so rain and spray are not an issue and when I wash the cockpit I do it with the thought that to much water will overflow the troughs. So I am careful. I agree that the removal of the flaps will help the water flow better and increase drainage. I would take a good look at the drain hoses to to make sure there are no low and high spots in the run from the deck drain to the thru hull. I made some changes on mine to give a better fall helping the flow. This helped mine drain better. It seems as many have removed the flaps without issue, I am alway cautious when it comes to removing components of thru hulls or check valves attached to thru hulls.

 

[ALICE J]

A little off the thread, but I too have had water rushing under the transom door in following seas, a lot in fact, and its generally saltwater, bad stuff for wiring. So I made a stop water from starboard about an inch high, fastened tightly against the closed transom door with chalking. It's pretty water resistant now. The hydraulic force of the horizontal water is directed upward by the stop water successfully diverting the water from going under the closed transom door.