The Good, The Bad and the Ugly 8)
Over the weeking I was going over a few things on the boat and opened two deck plates back near the transom.
That's Good
When I opened them they had water in them and they don't seem to be draining. I stuck my hand inside and I can feel a hole in there but it seems to be clogged.
Well, that sounds Bad
It is in the same section of the thru hull deck drains in the rear of an 85 CCP.
That's correct
I guess my question is how do I get this water out of here? Is there a specific place this water is supposed to drain to.
Shop vac will work, followed by evaporation.
Yes, the water is supposed to drain into the main bilge area.
Here's some thoughts based on past experience.
The holes you feel are there for the drainage of this area. Some holes are probably drilled better than others to facilitate a more complete drain of this outboard side of the stringer. If drilled too high, obviously some water will not drain. As to being clogged, that too is a possibility. Anything from flotsam to jetsam could be stuck in there but I'd bet a buck it's bits and pieces of old decaying foam flotation. After a while, I gave up on complete Sahara Desert dry and lowered my expectations.
So with that said, where's the Ugly?
Well the ugly is where the water
may come from and trying to repair it. If it's leaking past the deck plates, you need to replace them with screw in types (if they're not already). This can save you an "ugly" experience if you should find yourself in a following sea(heavy) and taking water into the motor well. Should a pry off type plate cover happen to pop out (oil can effect of the hull below deck) when you're concentrating on your piloting, you'll be surprised at just how much water and just how fast it will enter your bilge. Don't ask me how I know but....
Let's not paint a gloom and doom picture, yet. :o
Water can enter from other places all around the boat, many of which you'll never find. Every time it rained and my boat was outside, water found its way into the bilge and on those side compartments so don't sweat the situation. Water will end up there unless you keep it in a garage and never go out.
But...
Water could be entering via the cockpit drain system (thru hull/hose/connections of same). You might want to check these while you have time. It helps with your sense of security. Now the UGLY part.
If you a human of any normal size or larger, getting to and working on this system is gonna get real ugly. :shaking2:
Good luck
and post some pics. The bloody arm/digit ones are very popular on this Forum.
