Seacock drainplug?

[jdlough]

My boat's on a lift, so it's awkward removing and installing the garboard drain plug from the outside.

I have decent access to the plug area down in the bilge.

I'm considering removing the garboard fitting and replacing it with some type of inside seacock.
That way, no plug to remove and lose. Just open or close the drain hole with the handle.

Does such a drain plug/seacock thing already exist?

If not, I'm thinking to replace the garboard fitting with threaded 3/4" or 1" bronze thru-hull, with a bronze seacock attached inside.

I've never heard of anyone doing this. Bad idea?

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Seacock drainplug?

I believe in the fewer holes, the better, and a seacock is a hole waiting to happen. I have only one and it makes me nervous.
Although you are at less risk with the boat on a lift; mine stays in the water.

Why not just leave the plug in, except for long-term such as over winter? If I recall, you have an outdoor boat, with a self-baling deck, so the water that gets in the bilge is negligable, and the bilge pump will take care of it. That's exactly what would be going on if you left it moored in the water, and the boat is made for that, too.
It's also a way to eliminate the risk of joining the "forgot the plug" club.

My sister keeps her Grady on the lift, plug in; I'm sure that's what most people do. I need to run my boat today so maybe I'll go survey the river.

 

[jdlough]

Re: Seacock drainplug?

I'm thinking to put the seacock in the exact spot that the garboard drain is now. Using the same hole.

The boat already has two bronze sea cocks directly screwed to bronze thru-hull fittings at the transom (livewell and washdown intakes). They are incredibly sturdy, so I'm not worried about them.

My deck is self draining, but there's still a couple of spots water can get into the bilge. There's two under-deck fish/storage boxes that drain into the bilge. Normally not a problem, since they're towards the bow area, and I leave the bow tilted up on the lift. However, last year I was away for a few weeks and left the plug in. Storms from the west apparently blew the water up to the bow and into the boxes. They drained into the bilge, and the bilge pump jammed. I came back to find water almost up to the top of the batteries. So now, I like to leave the plug out. (I guess I should replace those storage box lid gaskets)

I replaced the bilge pump and I'm installing a backup bilge pump this year, so I'll probably just leave the garboard system as is, and leave the plug in.

I never heard of an inside-the-transom seacock drainplug, and was wondering why not?

Something like this:

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Seacock drainplug?

sounds like you're on the right track--No. 1 fix the bilge pump and No.2 stop the leaking.

Take the plug out if you are going to be away for a couple weeks but not routinely

I guess no one does a drain seacock b/c if you can get down there, a plug is easier and cheaper. Most inside plugs are the rubber kind, b/c they are quick, easy and cheap.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Seacock drainplug?

http://www.iboats.com/Perko-Garboar...473865693--session_id.129433683--view_id.3633