Relocating Cockpit Drains to Above the Waterline.

[endoftheroad]

Many boats with below waterline drains do the modification including Westsails.

I have been assuming that I would use Forespar (white plastic) thru-hulls for the above waterline cockpit drains but it just dawned on me how much my boat bucks out here in my exposed anchorage and that the thru-hulls would be constantly dipped or submerged in salt water.
Also bucking a current or high rpm's of the diesel squats the ass end of the boat further exposing the thruhulls and aft ends of the inside of the hoses to salt water.
Probably best to use bronze thru-hulls?

Also, can anyone think of any scenarios where a seacock on the thru-hull would come in handy or even a life saver?

I just bought a Herreshoff 28 about 5 weeks ago, the former retiring English prudent sailor had seacocks installed on above WL thru-hulls. Mind you the boat sits low in the water, in fact I step from my Caribe inflatable onto the Herreshoff opposite of the climb up onto the Westsail. He sailed almost everywhere on the globe with the boat.

So...
Bronze thru-hulls?
And, install seacocks?

Thanks,
Carl

[GordMay]

Install (bronze) seaccocks.
Seacocks should be installed on all hull penetrations, including cockpit drains, below the maximum heeled waterline, except the engine exhaust.

[roverhi]

Any cockpit drain through hull will be underwater on one tack or the other unless the cockpit is not self draining or outrageously high freeboard. Might be a safety feature for a power boat or one that lives at anchor but no great addition for a sailboat. I'd stick with cockpit drains wherever they are now with a bronze through hull, seacock or marine ball valve.

[roverhi]

GordMay, why do you exempt the engine exhaust from having a seacock?? Most boats have an anti syphon loop that is well above the water line but high following seas could still back flow into the engine. Know The valve would be one thing more to forget to open. Seems like that would be obvious real quick if engine was started with it closed.

Just curious 'cause because current boat has a swing check valve at the above the water through hull just below the transom. Don't really trust check valves and was thinking of putting a ball valve in line instead.

[Pelagic]

Gord probably has better reasons but I think it is because it is not necessary due to the anti siphon loop and the fact that carbon deposits would sizes up the large valve. If stern exhaust then a check valve or flap is usually enough. Just think of the problems if a valve failed in the closed position

[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by roverhi

Any cockpit drain through hull will be underwater on one tack or the other unless the cockpit is not self draining or outrageously high freeboard.

Not mine! Unless I get a huge following sea. And I bought the big SS ones. And I've never had water coming back up thru the deck drain.

.

[endoftheroad]

I guess that was a dumb question.
I'll install new bronze seacocks and thruhulls.

[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by endoftheroad

I guess that was a dumb question.
I'll install new bronze seacocks and thruhulls.

You don't need seacocks for deck drains. If they are above the waterline there is no need to shut them off unless the boat is already sinking. Freezing is the biggest problem, the next is letting them get plugged.

[endoftheroad]

I bought bronze valves and bronze thruhuls because the new location for this modification is only about 6-8 inches above the WL.