Cockpit drain seacocks

[bcooke]

Here is a picture of the starboard cockpit drain seacock I mentioned.



Darned if those drains didn't move after I drilled the holes for the seacock. When I change the hoses I will have to straighten that out. Don't you just love those big Bomar hatches?!

The sealant smeared around the tube ends is my half-baked attempt to cover my laziness. I had been postponing installing the seacocks because of a shortage of one item or another for almost a month. Finally the day came and wouldn't you know I had forgotten to order plain hose. I couldn't be stopped any longer so I wound up using some wire-reinforced hose I had around. I pulled out as much of the wire as I could and then gooped up the ends with sealant to delay the corrosion of the wire. I doubt it will really help but it makes me feel better. I know, I need to get some smaller clamps too. They are AWAB though. I should get credit for that :-)

-Britton

[jhenson]

Britton,

Were the hoses secured to the seacocks before you bolted them down, or where you able to maneuver them into place after securing the seacocks? Do you think you will have any problems changing them in there present location once the boat is afloat?

Thanks for the picture. One of my fiberglass drain assemblies has a fracture at the cockpit sole and is almost ready to fall off. I wonder if someone broke it changing hoses in this tight space. I am not sure it would be worth the effort to fix it.

Joe

[bcooke]

Were the hoses secured to the seacocks before you bolted them down

Yes. Contrary to common sense and good judgement, the hoses were slipped into place and then the seacocks were shifted into position.

Do you think you will have any problems changing them in there present location once the boat is afloat?

Yes again. Changing the hoses will require unbolting the seacocks. I definitely won't be doing this while afloat but I can remove the nuts, drive out the bolts, shift the seacocks and put in new hose. Should be an easy day's project ... in ten to twenty years if I am lucky. Note - I did NOT permanently anchor the seacocks with epoxy or 5200. By the time the hoses need changing I am hoping to come up with a better system.

-Britton

[Tim]

One of my fiberglass drain assemblies has a fracture at the cockpit sole and is almost ready to fall off. I wonder if someone broke it changing hoses in this tight space. I am not sure it would be worth the effort to fix it.

The original fiberglass assemblies can be of frighteningly poor quality. I struggled with various repair attempts to one of mine for several years (each thing I did would highlight another flaw) before finally doing what I should have done in the first place: replace them entirely with new fittings. This also entailed rerouting the existing deck drains (from the sidedecks and cockpit seat). Tritons differ in how the deck drains are set up in the first place, so my solution might not fit all needs.

http://www.triton381.com/projects/maint ... ppers2.htm

While the plan to unbolt the seacocks for a hose replacement might be OK, I would suggest that you look for a more convenient solution first, and then shift to Plan B only if you absolutely have to. Having the boat torn apart and as open as she will ever be makes this process a little easier, though there are still significant constraints dictated by the area in question.

You should be able to find a way to make a hose work. While I prefer hardwall hose for underwater fittings, I am satisfied with the softwall pre-formed automotive radiator hose that I ended up using. I should have just used this in the first place, but it's just as well that I learned it all the hard way.

[Tim]

I know, I need to get some smaller clamps too. They are AWAB though. I should get credit for that :-)

Nice AWABs! hehe

Watch your hand when you turn that seacock...ouch! They make these wicked cool little plastic tabs you can put over the clamp ends, if you're so inclined...and if you're a total dork like me.

[bcooke]

Posting pictures on this forum is always a dangerous idea. It just invites critisism to an already fragile ego :-)

I remember seeing those tabs somewhere and I mean to pick them up the next time I come across them. Smaller AWABs will help with the overall look too.

As for removing the seacocks... Yes, removal is the last option but it is an available option should I run into a brick wall of ideas. That thought allowed me to go ahead with the less than perfect design I am using now.

Actually, I would like to investigate the idea of drain fittings that were removable from the cockpit. It one could loosen the fitting and pull it up there should be room to remove the hose from the seacock tailpiece. Since Jim is at that point maybe he can show the way. Doing that would mean doing something different with the sidedeck drain fitting that tees into the system but I would like to "improve" that idea too. I also like Nathan's drain fittings in the forwardmost corners of the cockpit benches where that annoying little puddle always seems to form on Tritons. I will definitely be re-submitting the whole drain system to the planning board when they have a little less work to do. They are heavily overtaxed at the moment.

With a bit of time pouring over a radiator hose catalog I bet something could have been worked out with a pre-formed hose. I just didn't have the time. I am putting in 12-14 hours a day 7 days a week on the boat to hit my July 1 deadline and I just didn't want to slow down long enough to do that. If I don't stop to breath I think I am still on schedule.

...and if you're a total dork like me.

When I get better organized I intend to challenge you to a competition to see who is the better dork. I have a reasonable level of confidence of my superiority in that area. There is no question I am the biggest dork in my boatyard already.

-Britton

[Tim]

I am putting in 12-14 hours a day 7 days a week on the boat to hit my July 1 deadline and I just didn't want to slow down long enough to do that. If I don't stop to breath I think I am still on schedule.

I hear ya! Been there, done that...(am there, and am doing that).

When I get better organized I intend to challenge you to a competition to see who is the better dork. I have a reasonable level of confidence of my superiority in that area.

The dork line forms right behind me!

It just invites critisism to an already fragile ego :-)

Why, I didn't realize you were so...fragile. Sorry, man! hehe

[dasein668]

This t'ain't the right place if you are fragile!

And yes, the Dork line definitely forms behind Tim. I think I'm probably second or third in line though?mostly because my wife at least tries to keep me in line, while Tim's wife actually encourages his dorkness!

[Tim]

...his dorkness...

That sounds like kind of a royal title, does it not?

[dasein668]

All hail His Dorkness!

[bcooke]

Hail the Dork! Hail the Dork!

I think I had better lie down now before I shatter.

I thought I was going to be okay sailing a work-in-progress. But the closer I get to the launch the harder the idea is. I never thought of myself as a snob but maybe I had better take a harder look. Launching an unfinished boat is going to be very tough for my ego. I just picked up several cans of brightsides just in case I find the time...

-Britton

Oh, and I closed the seacocks because I thought it would look better in the photograph. After last night's thunderstorms I could have taken a bath in the cockpit this morning. At least something works. I should take comfort in that.

[dasein668]

You know, the more I think of it, the more it seems like His Dorkness is more of a boat name... Whaddy think?

[bcooke]

Oh that is just too good. Nathan you are a wizard :-)

-Britton

[Tim]

hehe...

Now, mistah, don't you have anything better to do!?

[Peter]

You know, the more I think of it, the more it seems like His Dorkness is more of a boat name... Whaddy think?

Funny ... I couldn't find that one in the Coast Guard Registry ...;-)

[bcooke]

Quote:
Were the hoses secured to the seacocks before you bolted them down

Yes. Contrary to common sense and good judgement, the hoses were slipped into place and then the seacocks were shifted into position.

I ordered a new sander last week but there was some mix up and I had to order it again today. That means I won't be sanding for the first part of this week.

To keep myself busy I fixed my cockpit drain system. Or at least I moved it in the right direction.

I replaced the glassed in tubes with flush thru-hulls. That way, when the hose needs changing, I can simply unscrew the thru-hull and lift it up providing ample room to change the hose.

Plus, those glassed in tubes with the deck drain unions are just too ugly to live. I was very happy to cut those things out.







I also drilled holes in the corners of the cockpit where annyoing puddles always form. It felt great to watch that puddle instanly dissapear down in to the bilge (Don't worry, I have a hole drilled in the bottom of the boat). Nice dry cockpit corners... ahh......

I also bought fittings to route the drain water back into the cockpit where the main drains will take care of it. Thanks to Nathan for showing me that idea.

-Britton

[Rachel]

Nice dredge! Kind of fun to see "his Dorkness" again.

R.

Now I can't stop thinking "Prince of Dorkness." Geez. Times like this I sometimes have to start thinking about "The Locomotion" That sticks in my head and removes the previous thing.

[Zach]

Britton,

Is the top flush with the cockpit sole?

My starboard christmas tree exploded while I was removing the gas tank. (Tugged on the hose getting it out of the way and out came a chunk!)

[bcooke]

Yeah, some people have reported those 'Christmas trees' as being pretty suspect. Mine were okay, just ugly. I can understande busting one up moving a fuel tank around. Not a whole lot of extra room in there.

Yes, the fittings are flush. I bought a cheap forstner bit and countersunk the sole enough so that the fitting would lie flush. This week I am going to use some thickened epoxy to make the fit even better. I will of course keep the fittings removable as it is the only reasonable way to change the hoses when it comes time for it.

-Britton