1987 222 Osprey question

[Cyclops69]

I just bought this boat and am new to this forum. I washed the boat yesterday and the two outside front deck hatches are holding water and have no drain in them. Is there any harm in just putting a drain in these into the hull (I'm not a big fan of this option as in my opinion there is something fundamentally wrong with draining water INTO your boat) or has anyone tied them into the center hatch drain that drains out the starboard front of the boat. Thanks in advance or your help.

[Cyclops69]

Ok then I guess I'm the only one that has had this issue

[slvrlng]

My 83 222 only has one large hatch on the casting deck. A pic of yours might make it easier to understand why yours might leak and not drain.

[love2fish]

i have a 74 22-2 that has slightly different hatches- but they get water in them also... options: put a piece of puddy or clay on the deck lip of the opening.. then close the hatch lid and see the gap- from there- get the correct gasket and apply. that will help seal the hatch.
I also put a drain in the lowest point of my hatch and ran a hose to the bilge area.

[gran398]

As Chris suggests...add a gasket. And "dog down" the hatch with a recessed latch.

If it still leaks a little...a cup or two of rainwater drained to the bilge won't hurt a thing.

[Cyclops69]

Thanks for the responses. Wasn't to concerned with water getting in the hatch  Just wanted to see if anyone had come up with a way to drain them. On my boat there is three hatches on the floor of the forward casting deck. The the main fish box in the center of the floor haus an overboard drain but the ones on the left and right side of the fish box have no drains in them at all so they hold water. Just wondering if anyone had plumbed these into an overboard drain or come up with another option. I fish our inlet and run the beach a lot and have learned the hard way that deck hatches that drain into the bilge is a bad idea.