Cockpit Drains

[atrometer]

I've read several instances of the cockpit drains being below water allowing the cockpit to flood - rubber plugs were suggested.  Is this a common problem or is it due to just too much weight in the cockpit?   And how much is too much?

[hinmo]

In preparation for my inaugural launch next summer, and just that reason why, I bought a supply of rubber and wooden corks/plugs from here: http://www.widgetco.com/corks. Inexpensive and they fit great.

[NateD]

It's a weight thing. With my 1980 CP16, with a 40 pound motor and my weight (190#) alone, it was usually OK. If my wife joined me (140#), we would get a little water coming up, particularly when motoring and the stern squats. Add a 3rd person and the water would come in while sailing too. Or at least that is what I remember.

[kickingbug1]

    you must carry a heck of a crew weight. i have only occasionally has some water come back through the scrubbers but never a flood. never plugged mine never will.

[cas206]

My new to me CP16 is pretty empty of extraneous gear.  I did an hour "putt putt" cruise of the creek for my parents over holidays.  They were sitting forward in the cockpit.  I was sitting in aft corner working the 2.5 hp 4-cycle outboard.  I noticed the occasional spurt of water out of the drains when one of us rocked the boat to get a better view of something.  Nothing like a flood though.

In calm seas, water should only come up when the drains fall below the water line.  This is most likely only going to happen when the aft end is weighted down.  Even then, the water level will only rise to the water line in the weighted down aft section.  To flood the entire cockpit (but only up to the water line) would require the entire hull to be weighted down below the water line. 

The other way to get the entire cockpit below the water line, besides too much weight, is for a temporary rise in water level, for example, large following swells.  I've yet to experience that in my limited CP16 sailing experience.  I can see how that could be annoying.  However, personally, I feel that in such a situation, that is exactly the time that I would want an unexpected breaking wave from over the stern to drain quickly.  That raises the cockpit water level above the water line and subtracts from overall buoyancy. 

If I find it becomes an issue later on, I'd rather add some sort of decking on the cockpit floor to keep my feet dry but allow the water to drain.    I seem to recall the CP19 I owned in a previous life had rubber flaps across the drain outputs to help prevent back flow of water.  I have to admit I haven't looked at the CP16 drains in detail.   

[Gerry]

Motor plus an overweight old man sometimes equals water coming in backwards.  Buy the corks, stay forward in the cockpit, and don't back up too fast.

[nies]

My 78' with motor and me allows a small amount of water in cockpit while motoring,and while motoring got bath tub plugs from the hardware store and when I got a cockpit grate my feet stayed dry, so no need for plugs..........finally got two plastic valves,also from hardware store, and put them in the pipes, would never use in heavy weather, also at one point put flappers on end of drains pipes which were totally useless....................cockpit grate the best answer.......nies

[Jason]

Hi

From a safety perspective, I would leave the scuppers unplugged and free to drain water from the cockpit.  Water could come from waves and you would want it to drain fast, also it would be unfortunate to forget the plugs in during a rain and to have the cockpit fill up with water. I do not have a footwell grate but I think that leaving the scuppers unplugged and laying down a footwell grate is the best solution.  I have had 4 adults plus some gear and the water isn't a big problem but you will get a little bubbling up into the footwell from time to time, especially with a following sea.   -Jason

[skip1930]

Don't plug them up. Keep them clean. Let them free flow.
Safety first. Don't flood and flounder.

skip.

[hinmo]

Motor plus an overweight old man sometimes equals water coming in backwards.  Buy the corks, stay forward in the cockpit, and don't back up too fast.

HEY - I resemble that remark
250#s and a heavy cooler
what are ya gonna do!

[Bob23]

I'll tell you what your'e gonna do: Get to drinkin' the beer in that cooler so it's lighter! Maybe a tiller extension so you can sit further forward.
Bob23

[hinmo]

I'll tell you what your'e gonna do: Get to drinkin' the beer in that cooler so it's lighter! Maybe a tiller extension so you can sit further forward.
Bob23

Yes, you're right (actually pushing 260, but the annual New Years Diet will get it down 10 or so!). Tiller extension sounds good.

[Pacman]

If the drain tubes are below the waterline there is just too much weight in the stern of the little boat.

When the stern squats so the drain tubes are below the waterline the boat will sail like a pig.  

I firmly believe that uneven weight distribution and overloading the boat until the stern squats is the primary reason our little boats have a reputation for lack of speed and poor windward performance.

If you don't absolutely need something, leave it on shore.

If you do need an item, like a motor, get the lightest one you can.

Move the weight forward, like the battery, so the boat will sail on her lines without the dreaded stern squat.

If you do that your boat will sail 100% better and your cockpit floor will be dry most of the time.

Corks:  Use them if you like. (They don't weigh much but if your boat is sailing on her intended lines, they won't have much to do.) Just don't leave them in.

[Bob23]

I think a lot of guys have installed rubber flappers on the transom over the scupper holes. They prevent, to some degree, water ingress into the scuppers but will allow water to escape. Flappers probably isn't the correct name, but  you get the idea. I think I saw 'em on a photo of Skips boat.
Bob23

[MKBLK]

Elsewhere on the forum, I describe my adventure with a broken cockpit drain. In my situation, one of the pipes leading from the cockpit to the stern had broken free. Not a good thing. With the scuppers below the surface, the water will back up into the bilge/cabin. My problem arose because I had some "accessories" resting on top of the scupper tubes (since resolved). I had failed to take into consideration the beating those tubes would get while the boat was being trailered. The quick fix was to simply insert the transom "cork" into the drain. Under normal conditions, I would leave the drains open so any water coming over the coaming will drain out. If you have a following sea, just plug 'em up. With the wood grate I have on the cockpit floor, my feet don't even get wet with the little bit of water that comes in when the stern sinks lower than the drains. When the boat is "parked" on the hard, I leave the drains open to allow any rainwater to drain out.

Marty K.
1981 CP16 Pegasus