Where does the water go?

[sfc2113]

My 204 c has a cooler compartment in the center in front of the cabin, there is a drain in the bottom. Also a drain in the cabin floor. I tried pouring water in them to see where they drain out to, thought they were going out the tru hulls on either side but non came out, and when Ireplaced the thru hulls they were only connect to the deck drains and the fish box drains, so where is the water on these 2 drains going?


I checked the stern bildge even chanked up the trailer to pitch the bow up as high as it could go, and no water back there? as a mater of fact when I poured some water in the stern bildge it ran into the holes facing the fuel tank and did not run back, even with the bow pitched up? does the bildge water sit in the belly of the entire hull? or just the stern?
or will it all come out when I drive the thing down to the launch ramp?

 

[G8RDave]

If the water ran forward and not aft in the bilge your stern must be higher than the bow. I'm not familiar with your exact boat, but my guess is the drains you are referring to lead to the bilge.

 

[wahoo33417]

sfc: If your boat is same as my friend's 1987 204C, that box is the anchor locker. His drains to the bilge. If yours is not draining, there is likely a blockage and water is collecting somewhere. Best to try to figure that out.

Rob

 

[catch22]

If you look in the bilge area there should be 1 or 2 drain plugs on pvc tubes. They're probably the "holes" you are talking about. The tubes exit the last bulk head, (behind the fuel tank). I believe 1 drains the fuel tank area and the other should drain any forward compartment. Not 100% sure there are 2, but take a look. If your certain the plugs are gone, more than likely, (as mentioned above) they're clogged. Try snaking them out with an electrical fish or heavy wire.

 

[eppem]

try blasting some water into the drain with a hose and nozzle?

 

[drewmorton]

Mine drained to the bilge. It was about 1/2 full of resin, as though the pvc pipe was laid down into a puddle of resin and the resin filled up 1/2 of the pipe. The other half was full of many years worth of unidentifiable stuff. Spraying a hose did no good for me, but I didnt care because I was taking the whole boat apart anyway. For the sake of your sanity, I hope you arent considering that. Your boat is newer, maybe the hose will work.

 

[cdwood]

Yo drew, have'nt heard from you in a while. How's your project?

sfc, sounds like your referring to the anchor locker. If so, mine drains out to the port side walkaround thru the cabin wall. Look closely in your cabin, maybe under some "monkey fur" you will find the drain. Look for a thru hull at the base of your portside walkaround and fill locker, then you will know.

 

[Gulf Coast Grady]

I just had the same problem with my 1985 204c. The tank in the floor drains into the bilge. Look down in the bilge by the transom and you will see two drain holes at the rear of the fuel tank bulkhead. The port side drain is the one that leads to the forward compartments. I used water and heavy wire to clear the debris from the drain. Another way to check is to remove the wooden drawers under the port side seat, then you can actually stick your head in and look down at the bilge and see where the drain to the stern begins. I had to reach down into this area to clear out the debris. It is not an easy task. Hope that this helps.

 

[drewmorton]

cd,
the winter weather has kept me from doing anything on the boat, and I had to step away from the boat websites so I didnt go crazy thinking about what I had to do yet. The weather is starting to change, so hopefully Ill get a chance to work on the boat some, but now the wife says she wants a new kitchen. Since I refuse to pay for things that most normal people would, I told her the only way thats happening is if I build the cabinets myself. So, between work, kids, new cabinets, etc...boat working time will be limited. Thankfully Ive got a good neighbor with a 26 shamrock that likes tuna fishing, so I am hoping to hitch a few rides with him this year.

Drew

 

[sfc2113]

I just had the same problem with my 1985 204c. The tank in the floor drains into the bilge. Look down in the bilge by the transom and you will see two drain holes at the rear of the fuel tank bulkhead. The port side drain is the one that leads to the forward compartments. I used water and heavy wire to clear the debris from the drain. Another way to check is to remove the wooden drawers under the port side seat, then you can actually stick your head in and look down at the bilge and see where the drain to the stern begins. I had to reach down into this area to clear out the debris. It is not an easy task. Hope that this helps.

Yes, thats it, thanks, Was wondering where the water I was pouring in was going. Now I know. Right to the Bildge. I have yet been able to get the water to drain out to the aft bilge , the boat bow is as high as I can crank it but may not be enough. Dont think the drains are clogged that run from foward to aft bildge. I pour water in the aft bilge and it runs into these 2 drains. I dont see any plugs for the drains in the fuel tank bulkhaed but there is a chain with no plug attached, Shoulf these be plugged up or open?

 

[cdwood]

The one for the gas tank coffin should be plugged to keep any saltwater away fron the gas tank.

 

[sfc2113]

The one for the gas tank coffin should be plugged to keep any saltwater away fron the gas tank.

I found the user manual it show the drains on Page 21: http://www.gradywhite.com/customer/manu ... el=Owners_

The picture is too dark to see, what one is the fuel tank Coffin drain? Looking into the bilge from aft, and how the hell do you reach it...... my finfer tips just barely get there.
do I use a standard plug like the one to drain the aft bilge?

 

[cdwood]

Had to make myself a tool out of 1 inch PVC to put the plug in place and to lift the lever to close it. Can get a picture if that will help.

 

[catch22]

The one for the gas tank coffin should be plugged to keep any saltwater away fron the gas tank.

Actually, it's the other way around.

It's supposed to be plugged so in the event of a tank leak, it will contain the fuel in the compartment and prevent it from being accidentally pumped overboard by the bilge pump.

Your supposed to "periodically" remove it to drain any water that might have accumulated.

I always left mine out, but that's up to you.

 

[sfc2113]

The one for the gas tank coffin should be plugged to keep any saltwater away fron the gas tank.

Actually, it's the other way around.

It's supposed to be plugged so in the event of a tank leak, it will contain the fuel in the compartment and prevent it from being accidentally pumped overboard by the bilge pump.

Your supposed to "periodically" remove it to drain any water that might have accumulated.

I always left mine out, but that's up to you.

Good point , if the bilge pump starts pumping it could ignite right?

 

[catch22]

The one for the gas tank coffin should be plugged to keep any saltwater away fron the gas tank.

Actually, it's the other way around.

It's supposed to be plugged so in the event of a tank leak, it will contain the fuel in the compartment and prevent it from being accidentally pumped overboard by the bilge pump.

Your supposed to "periodically" remove it to drain any water that might have accumulated.

I always left mine out, but that's up to you.

Good point , if the bilge pump starts pumping it could ignite right?

It's more for CG regs... fuel / oil spills.

Bilge pumps are sealed and ignition proof.. so they shouldn't. Any loose wire connection might.

 

[cdwood]

[
I always left mine out, but that's up to you.

If it's supposed to be plugged in the event of a tank leak per CG regs. and you periodically drain any water from it what would be your reason for leaving it unplugged?

 

[catch22]

[
I always left mine out, but that's up to you.

If it's supposed to be plugged in the event of a tank leak per CG regs. and you periodically drain any water from it what would be your reason for leaving it unplugged?

Because I don't want any water to accumulate or be trapped in the tank compartment. I'd rather take my chances and ensure any water drains to the bilge, rather than stay trapped and possibly rot a bulk head away. I'm not suggesting this is the best thing to do... just what I do. If I ever smelled gas, or suspected a leak, and couldn't get the boat out of the water immediately, then I would replace the plug and take it from there. And, to be perfectly honest, if a little gas got pumped out, I wouldn't exactly lose sleep over it. I'd rather it go overboard than sit in my bilge, (sorry CG and EPA). Small spills and overflows happen all the time at the fuel docks.

The statement about "periodically draining" was taken from the Grady owners manual.

 

[cdwood]

CATCH' I hear ya' on water trapped in the coffin, but still, if you had a fuel leak and allowed it accumulate in the bilge would'nt you be concerned about the wiring you have down there. Any connection that was'nt perfect when exposed to gas fumes is a recipie for disaster.

 

[catch22]

CATCH' I hear ya' on water trapped in the coffin, but still, if you had a fuel leak and allowed it accumulate in the bilge would'nt you be concerned about the wiring you have down there. Any connection that was'nt perfect when exposed to gas fumes is a recipie for disaster.

The way I look at it is, a leaky fuel tank is a "failure" and should be dealt with when/if it happens. Allowing water to drain from any compartment should be automatic. Yes, I agree, the safest practice would be to keep it plugged and check/drain it occasionally. Keep in mind, on some models, to access that plug, you need to remove the livewell. Not something I'd want to do on a regular basis. Also, unless your 100% certain that ALL your deck seams and the inspection plates are completely sealed, that compartment will be accumulating water. I've had the large deck covers up on several older Gradys and almost every time, the area below was very wet. Imo, the pry out, "Beckson" deck plates do not seal up very well. You can clean them up and coat the O ring area with a lithium, or plastic safe grease and that will help, but not completely. Most of the plates that I know I won't be using, (hopefully) for a long time, I seal up with silicone.
Bottom line is, either way, (plug in, or lug out) can have consiquences, so do what you think is best.