2000 FD226 Deck Drainage and Center Cockpit Hatch

OV59

Hi there.  We just acquired ta 2000 Fun Deck 226 OB.  The boat is kept in the water so I am trying get control of water in the bilge.  My questions concern cockpit drainage, specifically:

1. The hatch covering the large storage compartment in the center of the deck is framed with aluminum and has no positive seal.  It appears that during heavy rain a fair amount of water gets around the hatch and flows to the back of the compartment where it drains to the bilge.  Can you (anyone) suggest an effective seal method or product? Or is this a hatch replacement job?

2.  How may the deck drain fittings and overboard drain fittings best be accessed for examination, service, or replacement?  Particularly the forward drains.

Thank you.

cjjjdeck

Welcome to the forum OV59!

1.  Although you could try using some adhesive foam gasketing on the door/frame, it's been my experience, the large floor compartment (also called the ski locker) even with a gasket rarely holds back high volumes of water such as a rain storm completely.  I guess that is why it has a drain.  The best method to avoid water accumulation in the bilge that I have found to be most effective is using a mooring cover on the boat when not in use.

Here's a link to some of the gasket products I was talking about if your interested:

http://search.defender.com/?expression=gasket&s=1

2.  Unfortunately, the hoses and drains were all installed before the hull and deck were joined in the final assembly.  What that means is that some of those connections may not be reachable without either drilling holes and installing access plates or splitting the hull and deck assemblies to gain access (major labor).  Some of the hoses and drains might be reached by existing access plates that might have been installed on your boat either by the factory or the previous owner.  One thing you can do is to make sure those drain systems either are or are not contributing to the bilge water accumulation as some may be designed to drain into the bilge and some may not.  Test each drain by taking a hose and running water through each one and see if it is exiting through a hull fitting or dumping directly into the bilge.  As long as the through hull fittings are not leaking into the bilge, you are probably still in decent shape.  If you see water coming out of the through hull fitting AND see water accumulating in the bilge, that will be a problem and must be repaired as that hose is actually leaking into the hold,

OV59

Thank you very much.