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Dorothy & Keith
Mar 23, 2009 - 10:43AM
Bilge drain plug
At the weekend, we noticed for the first time ever an appreciable amount of water in the bilge channel in the main cabin. I presumed that the drain hole through to the main bilge and bilge pump under the cockpit must have become blocked and in trying to 'clear' it discovered the drain hole was sealed by a huge metal drain plug. We eventually got the plug out, drained and pumped out the water and left the drain plug out, but the question remains: whatever is the drain plug for? Are we OK to leave it out permanently?
Incidentally, there was good reason for the water to have entered in the first place, it's just that we expected it to have drained into the main bilge and been pumped away.
SeaDog Name (if owner or crew) Sea Lark
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Eric Richardson
Mar 23, 2009 - 1:56PM
Re: Bilge drain plug
Hi There
Yes the plug is there for a reason, the idea is that if you are taking on water from aft the plug will help to contain it behind the main bulkhead. When the boats were built the main bulkhead was sealed as a safety measure. I am sure that most seadogs will have had various holes etc drilled throught the bulkhead thus losing its integrity. I removed this plug and left it out for convenience on Taliesin as it was already redundant in terms of other holes. If you were to undertake a long crossing etc then restoring the integrity of the main bulkhead would be worth while.
Regards Eric
SeaDog Name (if owner or crew) Ex Taliesin
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Dorothy & Keith
Mar 23, 2009 - 2:34PM
Re: Re: Bilge drain plug
Thanks Eric, in that case we will happily leave it out.
SeaDog Name (if owner or crew) Sea Lark
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Alan and Debbie
Mar 23, 2009 - 5:30PM
Re: Bilge drain plug
Just as a matter of interest where do you access this plug? Star Dog has a 9" x 6" hatch on the bilge line of the galley sole but I've never noticed a plug of any description. I do know that it is not in place because we periodically flush through from the heads to check that everything is clear and I've sometimes wondered if anything may get wet in the engine bay. Although I can hear a trickle into the engine bay (am I allowed to call it the engine room??)when we do this no water is evident. Is there a hidden drop tube or something?
SeaDog Name (if owner or crew) Star Dog
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Eric Richardson
Mar 24, 2009 - 9:44AM
Re: Bilge drain plug
Hi Alan
The hole is in the bulkhead in front of the engine at saloon floor level, a bit difficult to see, but if you follow the flow of water from the saloon you will see it run out into the bilge in front of the engine quite low down. Best way is to get a torch and try to look in front of engine when water is running or if its a bit made up just trickling. Will find it for you if we have the good luck to meet up this year.
Regards to you both Eric
SeaDog Name (if owner or crew) Ex Taliesin
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John Lansdell
Mar 24, 2009 - 2:42PM
Re: Re: Bilge drain plug
Thanks Eric, Learn something everyday! When I was working on Twotails I found the brass fitting in the bulkhead, without plug, and did not think much about it. Now I'm worried about what will happen when I go round Cape Horn! (In my dreams). John L.
SeaDog Name (if owner or crew) Twotails
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Graham Matthews
Mar 24, 2009 - 6:16PM
Re: Re: Re: Bilge drain plug
You should worry! Not only did I make the hole a bit bigger on Dougal, because it kept getting bunged up and wouldn't empty the 'rat run' but we have a blooming great water pump access trap behind the galley drawers
SeaDog Name (if owner or crew) Dougal
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