I have been spending some time, when I have any spare, ripping out the cockpit sole on Mallard. It has always leaked and water found its way below decks and into the engine compartment bilge. Apart from the way it leaks water into the boat the cockpit drains have always caused me a some concern. Because Mallard does not have a ton of free board the sole is only few inches above the waterline which means that on a larger boat whereas the water from the drains at the forward end of the cockpit would be able to drain through some suitable skin fittings above the water line they cannot on Mallard. In fact both inch diameter drains used to connect to a sea-cock below the water line. The dilemma with this was that on the one hand when I left the boat I wanted to close all the sea-cocks below the waterline but if I did that it would negate the usefulness of the drains and the cockpit would fill with water when it rained and thence into the engine compartment as described above.
In an effort to provide drainage from the cockpit, do away with the potential for catastrophe by a failed hose and open sea-cock below the waterline and come up with a solution when the water can be ejected above the waterline I am reconfiguring the drains and utilising a shower sump pump. The water will now run from the cockpit into the Johnson shower pump where it will be ejected over the side. In truth I do not get much water in the cockpit especially when the cover is on the boat so the pump will not have much work to do but I do know that I shall sleep a little easier at night especially when I am away from the boat.
I have been keeping a photo record at the work proceeds and hopefully if it all get finished at the weekend I should be able to get you a soup to nuts blow by blow account of the project from start to finish.
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