Anchor Locker Drain Plugged. 1989 Catalina 30 MKII

[iyamwhatiyam]

Any advice for clearing a clogged anchor locker drain on a 1989 Catalina 30 MKII? I've never dug into the plumbing, perhaps there is access from the V-Berth. Also, I noticed what may be part of a valve mechanism that may have at one time been seated at the top of the drain. Possibly a backflow preventer? It is a tiny cylinder with a pin protruding out of one end that fits perfectly into the drain hole at the base of the anchor locker.

Thanks for your help.

Robert

S/V Sea Cur

[Don C L]

I believe the C30 has a small drain hole exiting the hull on the stbd side of the bow. I don't think there is anything other than a small hole there, and all that is needed is to clear the hole of debris. You may need to pull out all the rode and use a shop-vac to reach down in there and suck out all the gunk that builds up in there. There is no need for a back flow preventer, if it has one; any water that gets in during sailing would be minimal and would drain out anyway.

[Tsuru]

Originally Posted by Don C L

I believe the C30 has a small drain hole exiting the hull on the stbd side of the bow. I don't think there is anything other than a small hole there, and all that is needed is to clear the hole of debris. You may need to pull out all the rode and use a shop-vac to reach down in there and suck out all the gunk that builds up in there. There is no need for a back flow preventer, if it has one; any water that gets in during sailing would be minimal and would drain out anyway.

This is exactly the way our Catalina 28 was set up. Ours plugged one time and I backflushed it with a dock hose from outside the hull into the chain locker. Found a purple acrylic fingernail. Don't know who lost it or how long it had been in there...
Agree that there is no need for a backflow preventer. The bottom drain from the chain locker exited the hull above the water line. I changed the hose shortly after as a routine maintenance item.
Good luck,
Ray

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by iyamwhatiyam

Any advice for clearing a clogged anchor locker drain on a 1989 Catalina 30 MKII?

Run a stiff wire through it, folded back on itself at the end.