racclarkson@gmail.com
Legendary Member
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2015
- Messages
- 3,722
- Status
- OWNER - I own a Hatteras Yacht
- Hatteras Model
- 55' CONV -Series I (1979 - 1988)
I am remodeling my after bilges and steering deck area. After repainting, I really didn’t like the look of the old plastic cockpit drain hoses sagging and looking pretty much like crap.
So, I decided to remove them and re-plumb with PVC. I did a pretty good job, if I say so myself. I called it a day, put away the tools and fired up the A/C for a relaxing evening. I glanced out back window and Holy Fountain of Youth, Batman! There was a geyser of water shooting up from the drain on the (fortunately) open center access!
After about 10 seconds of a combination of fright and bewilderment, I turned the A/C off and the flood abated. I was beat and frustrated and wanted no part of reworking the plumbing in cramped quarters. Where'd I stash those oak plugs? I had used a liberal portion of 5200 putting in a new PVC elbow the previous day; the threads were completely gone. Despite the advertised 7 day cure time, I was able to drive a plug in the pipe with a large hammer—can’t believe it held up to that.
Reason finally took over. I knew I couldn’t sleep with only that oak plug holding me up. It was August, and it was South Carolina—A/C not optional. Back to work; should be simple to swap hoses, right?
‘OK, I’ll just swap the A/C line with the bilge pump discharge next to it and clean it all up tomorrow.’ I was half right: the dealing with it the next day part. I started pulling the bilge pump line off the thru hull. It came off just fine, along with half the thru hull! Where did I put that oak plug?? It was all working so well before I started fixing what wasn’t broken until I fixed it until I broke it.
Some SOB had plumbed the cockpit drain into the A/C pump discharge line. I guess they too had experienced Old Faithful because they had installed a small check valve in the line. I mistook it for a splice. As some of you may recall, I have a blackheart when it comes to March Pumps. But give the devil his due, it was moving some water and then some.
Anyway, a new thru hull, new tube of 5200, new tee, a plug, some more pipe and fittings and we are now good to go. Hard to believe someone really thought this was acceptable.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot. I ran that bilge pump and no more geyser. You know, I think I'm done plumbing for a while.
So, I decided to remove them and re-plumb with PVC. I did a pretty good job, if I say so myself. I called it a day, put away the tools and fired up the A/C for a relaxing evening. I glanced out back window and Holy Fountain of Youth, Batman! There was a geyser of water shooting up from the drain on the (fortunately) open center access!
After about 10 seconds of a combination of fright and bewilderment, I turned the A/C off and the flood abated. I was beat and frustrated and wanted no part of reworking the plumbing in cramped quarters. Where'd I stash those oak plugs? I had used a liberal portion of 5200 putting in a new PVC elbow the previous day; the threads were completely gone. Despite the advertised 7 day cure time, I was able to drive a plug in the pipe with a large hammer—can’t believe it held up to that.
Reason finally took over. I knew I couldn’t sleep with only that oak plug holding me up. It was August, and it was South Carolina—A/C not optional. Back to work; should be simple to swap hoses, right?
‘OK, I’ll just swap the A/C line with the bilge pump discharge next to it and clean it all up tomorrow.’ I was half right: the dealing with it the next day part. I started pulling the bilge pump line off the thru hull. It came off just fine, along with half the thru hull! Where did I put that oak plug?? It was all working so well before I started fixing what wasn’t broken until I fixed it until I broke it.
Some SOB had plumbed the cockpit drain into the A/C pump discharge line. I guess they too had experienced Old Faithful because they had installed a small check valve in the line. I mistook it for a splice. As some of you may recall, I have a blackheart when it comes to March Pumps. But give the devil his due, it was moving some water and then some.
Anyway, a new thru hull, new tube of 5200, new tee, a plug, some more pipe and fittings and we are now good to go. Hard to believe someone really thought this was acceptable.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot. I ran that bilge pump and no more geyser. You know, I think I'm done plumbing for a while.
