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My Cockpit Drain has no screen in the drain hole just before the companion way hatch. It has plugged and isn't draining. Working on using hand pump to drain the water and my arms are tired lol... So 2 questions. 1) How would you fine folks suggest clearing the clog , which is small leaves and debris. 2) any suggestions on a screen in the cockpit drain opening to keep it from clogging again?

Regards,

Will Riddle

A picture would help, but for now I'll assume the drain is similar to an X.

I clear mine by putting a garden hose on the outside and pushing the debris back into the motor well. You don't need much pressure.

Someone, (OverEasy?) posted a screen to keep debris out not too long ago. It might work on an M22.

As mentioned, I blast it with the garden hose. Best from the bottom, but I've done it from the top as well.

Many captains have used one of these metal screens and inverted it over the drain. That works for the motor well drain, but I'm not sure it would work for your.

I just found this and I think I'm going to order one and try it.

https://www.amazon.com/Catcher-Silicone ... KVLLL?th=1




Here's a link to the metal cup shaped one
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZ7H1VK6/re ... OUivk&th=1

Had to get pic of drain, Here is where my cockpit drain is, it goes straight down and through hull at the back end of the keel trunk. I ordered a 1" stainless drain cover with slots in it from Amazon to see if it will help...

Pushing the blockage back up into the cockpit will work better than trying to push it further into the drain. The drains on the X are a lot shorter but they appear to work the same way.

Good luck!

This looks like it should work well. Roger should have put something over that drain. Most boats I've seen have screens over the scuppers.

Be Free wrote: ↑Fri Oct 17, 2025 7:28 am Pushing the blockage back up into the cockpit will work better than trying to push it further into the drain. The drains on the X are a lot shorter but they appear to work the same way.

Good luck!

Thanks Bill, I will give that a try, the trick is getting to the drain on the bottom while sitting on the trailer

Russ wrote: ↑Fri Oct 17, 2025 8:44 am This looks like it should work well. Roger should have put something over that drain. Most boats I've seen have screens over the scuppers.

Thanks Russ, this part should show up today and excited to try it out. I have been stalled on getting her ready to sail, and this is the first step forward I'm thinking I need some bedding compound to seal the screw holes, can you recommend something that works good?

This is my go to for most marine uses. You can probably get this at a hardware store.

https://www.amazon.com/3M-Marine-Adhesi ... AY6B0?th=1

I use a drain cleaner thingy from Amazon ($3 - long thin plastic)

Be Free wrote: ↑Thu Oct 16, 2025 9:18 am A picture would help, but for now I'll assume the drain is similar to an X.

I clear mine by putting a garden hose on the outside and pushing the debris back into the motor well. You don't need much pressure.

Someone, (OverEasy?) posted a screen to keep debris out not too long ago. It might work on an M22.

Willburrrr2003 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 17, 2025 10:20 am

Be Free wrote: ↑Fri Oct 17, 2025 7:28 am Pushing the blockage back up into the cockpit will work better than trying to push it further into the drain. The drains on the X are a lot shorter but they appear to work the same way.

Good luck!

Thanks Bill, I will give that a try, the trick is getting to the drain on the bottom while sitting on the trailer

I did not know the 22 drain was on the bottom!

I figure that any day where I don't learn something new is wasted so thank you for making my day.

I owned mac 22 and i believe it drained into the trunk, via a short hose. Mine also had no screen but worked fine.

Lots of springtime tree jizz falls on my uncovered boat, so I added the screen-type drain to my 26S. The drain hole is too close to the edge, so the screen didn't cover well. And it's fragile, so I was constantly reshaping it. In the end it worked waaay too well, clogging much faster than the original drain would have, and after just one storm I found my cockpit nearly filled. I got rid of it.
If you need a filter, I'd recommend a cone-shaped one (cone up) so as the bottom gets clogged, water can still reach the drain. If the bowl faces down, it'll clog in a day.

PrairieMoon wrote: ↑Mon Nov 24, 2025 8:17 am Lots of springtime tree jizz falls on my uncovered boat, so I added the screen-type drain to my 26S. The drain hole is too close to the edge, so the screen didn't cover well. And it's fragile, so I was constantly reshaping it. In the end it worked waaay too well, clogging much faster than the original drain would have, and after just one storm I found my cockpit nearly filled. I got rid of it.
If you need a filter, I'd recommend a cone-shaped one (cone up) so as the bottom gets clogged, water can still reach the drain. If the bowl faces down, it'll clog in a day.

Thanks PrairieMoon, will keep this in mind. I haven't had the chance yet to fit the one I bought, but have an automatic sump pump in the back of the cockpit for the moment.

Regards,

Will

Ditto to what Prairemoon said.
A flat screen can clog/block with just one good sized leaf …. Try and see if you can ge something that has a raised center screen which will, at least when on the trailer, allow the drain to still function.

I can understand that one might not want a raised center screen while out sailing (as it could get underfoot, but you’ll appreciate that raised center when the leaves and debris start gathering.

The screen that we made for our motor well bowl has a bent flange to better fit to the bowl wall and a bolt to keep it located to the drain hole which alleviates the need to bolt it down in place or making holes in the deck surface.
https://macgregorsailors.com/mods/index ... em&id=2191


There no one way “best” way to solve the problem, just what works for you.

Best Regards
Over Easy