Question About Cockpit Drains

[READY2GO]

We looked at an 1978 Irwin 30 today that we are considering purchasing. One thing that I noticed is that on the floor of the cockpit is an engine cover. It does not look like the design lets it seal very well. If any water leaks into the engine compartment it goes into the bilge. This seems to be a very bad design to me. We are planning to use the boat that we get in the Caribbean and the coast of Mexico. Is this a big concern, or am I thinking too much?

[skipmac]

Cockpit drains are definitely an issue to think about. In your case, if you are always lucky and never get caught out in really nasty weather it might never be a problem. BUT, if you do get pooped you might flood the engine, short the starter, fill the bilge and, if the cover is not secured and washes away, sink the boat.

I would do three things.

First, make sure that the cover is or can be secured by some sort of latch and not just held in by gravity.

Then, put some sort of gasket around the edge of the cover (thick neoprene, hi density foam, etc) so water in the cockpit doesn't all end up in the engine room.

Last, make sure you have adequate cockpit drains so if you do fill the cockpit it can go away quickly.

Safe sailing
Skip

[barnakiel]

We had a similar problem here. So, the engine got a bit wet now and then. Not much harm but much re-painting and cleaning.

Try to re-design so that the floor is 100% watertight.

b.