Motor well drain 26M

[TAM]

The drain in our motor well gets clogged easily. Not sure that it's really the best design. Has anyone moded this successfully? I'm getting tired of it filling up every time it rains. Since it shares the thru-hull with the galley drain, a clog in the well slows the sink also. I'm considering having the sink drain to a sump and then pump overboard from there, but not sure what to do with motor well.

[popI]

I think the T fitting between the transom drain and the sink drain is a major culprit. I always seem find the blockage there. I am now using the transom drain only for the motor well, and it seems to work better. I will be running the sink drain hose to a through-hull at the waterline adjacent the sink. I think the 03/04 model does this. I haven't heard of any problems, but it is certainly another hole for water to enter in case of a broken fitting. This is less of an issue for a trailered boat than a moored one.

[Russ]

I agree, that pencil hole sized drain is ridiculous. Sharing it with the sink only causes more problems although the benefit is only 1 through hull. Still, I feel a second through hull would be better. The sink drain hole is equally tiny and I'm going to replace that this winter. Another concern I have is it freezing up and breaking the hose.

I saw someone put a strainer type device on the well drain. It was raised so that it would not clog up.


--Russ

[raycarlson]

bad design in my opinion. i reduced the depth of my motor well to 5inches or enough for the engine to move freely at full up tilt.drilled a oneinch hole thru transom next to outboard tilt motor then just glassed in the motor well up to the level of the drain hole i drilled.this also let me double the width of the area on the right side of the motor for our feet where we enter an exit the boat.when all done and removed old drain hose on inside i filled boxed in portion of motor well with expando foam.now it is more like all the power boats i have owned,just open drain out the back.

[AKCoastie]

bad design in my opinion. i reduced the depth of my motor well to 5inches or enough for the engine to move freely at full up tilt.drilled a oneinch hole thru transom next to outboard tilt motor then just glassed in the motor well up to the level of the drain hole i drilled.this also let me double the width of the area on the right side of the motor for our feet where we enter an exit the boat.when all done and removed old drain hose on inside i filled boxed in portion of motor well with expando foam.now it is more like all the power boats i have owned,just open drain out the back.

Do you have pics of this mod? Sounds interesting.

[FLembo18]

Before you get into a lot of labor & $$ just try blowing the lines out with an Air Hose then put a small screen over the motor well hole (transom Deck)... it should be fine after that. Then all you have to do is clean off the screen once in awhile. I have an '04' and have (2) seperate drain holes. I still have to clean out my transom drain line now & then due to blockage by dead leaves, dead bugs, dirt, wine corks , beer bottle caps and discarded Bikini tops & bottoms

Frank L.

[Matt19020]

This is also something that I figured needed a better plan...
Would some type of a screen placed above the well work? Possible a frame made from marineboard and a screen attached? Or even Velcro?
Most of my clogs come from leaves or bugs

[pokerrick1]

discarded Bikini tops & bottoms
Frank L.

You WISH - - - IN YOUR DREAMS

Rick Less

[pokerrick1]

just try blowing the lines out with an Air Hose
Frank L.

Be careful not to use too much force, whether using an air hose or water pressure from a hose from the sink backwards (that works BTW) - - - if you disconnect that T fitting (blow it apart), you now have a very aggravating problem.

Rick Less

[Russ]

I'm thinking one of these might help.



http://www.aquariumguys.com/rainbow-lif ... parts.html


--Russ

[Kelly Hanson East]

Russ - for us in cold climates you will still find clogging and freezing is your enemy in the motor well. The good news is, even if the well fills with water and freezes, it wont damage the well with expansion.

In winter, I knot a piece of line and run it through the hose with fishtape in a continuous loop - this gives me a quick way to unclog any leaves in the hose and keep it draining.

[puggsy]

This is what you need...fit it straight through the transom at a point level with the bottom of the engine well...and just to the side of the outboard bracket...at 3/4 inch diameter it will not block...



and put a plug in the other little drain hole...which you have found blocks all the time...

[kmclemore]

You may want to check out a previous (and somewhat lengthy) discussion on this subject:

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... php?t=9033

[pokerrick1]

Russ - for us in cold climates you will still find clogging and freezing is your enemy in the motor well. The good news is, even if the well fills with water and freezes, it wont damage the well with expansion.

In winter, I knot a piece of line and run it through the hose with fishtape in a continuous loop - this gives me a quick way to unclog any leaves in the hose and keep it draining.

That's TOO smart

Rick LESS

[Russ]

Russ - for us in cold climates you will still find clogging and freezing is your enemy in the motor well. The good news is, even if the well fills with water and freezes, it wont damage the well with expansion.

The shape of the well allows it to "pinch" up and out if it freezes.

In winter, I knot a piece of line and run it through the hose with fishtape in a continuous loop - this gives me a quick way to unclog any leaves in the hose and keep it draining.

Clever idea. I may do that in summer.
I'm not worried about clogs in the winter where our boat is stored. What I do worry about is the loop in the drain hose freezing and breaking. I poured some pink non-toxic antifreeze in there, but eventually it will dilute and freeze. Two seasons and no problems, but who knows. It's the only thru hull fitting.


--Russ