Bilge Plug

[mbowser]

I have searched around but have found nothing on the size (bore hole diameter) of the bilge drain that is located on the transom of many DSII (not all). Rudy at DRMarine has them on his site, but doesn't list the size and I don't want to pay $9 shipping for a $5 part when I can probably get it locally.

Does anybody know what the dimensions are on this plug?
Also, I have seen some with the drain installed dead center at the lowest point and some that are offset about a foot to either side of center. Is there an advantage to either method?

[ChrisB]

For what it's worth, I lost mine years ago and after much searching (locally) I gave up and bought a cork the correct size for the hole at HD/Lowes. At some point, I drilled out the threads on the inside of the hole so the cork would fit a little more watertight. I have the same fix on the automatic bailer as the little ball fell out before I bought the boat. Both work well.

[mbowser]

For what it's worth, I lost mine years ago and after much searching (locally) I gave up and bought a cork the correct size for the hole at HD/Lowes. At some point, I drilled out the threads on the inside of the hole so the cork would fit a little more watertight. I have the same fix on the automatic bailer as the little ball fell out before I bought the boat. Both work well.

I think your misunderstanding my question (probably wasn't worded very well to begin with). My DSII doesn't have any hole to drain the bilge currently and I want to add one and I am not sure what the diameter of the hole to drill for the drain assembly, not the plug that goes into the assembly.

Anyway, I'm sure I can call Rudy to find out exactly.

[Alan]

My 1980 DSII has two drains in the transom, one for the cockpit and one for the bilge. The bilge drain is a plastic unit consisting of a threaded, flanged fitting that comes with a threaded plug. It's about halfway down this page:

http://www.drmarine.com/products.asp?cat=118

The other one is a cockpit drain, consisting of a metal sleeve and a rubber plug. I have one of the D&R fittings, sitting in my box of shiny stuff waiting to be installed. Outside diameter one inch; inside diameter 15/16. The ID of the one that's in the boat now is also 15/16 inch. That type of plug is available at my local mom-and-pop hardware store (don't know about the big box places).

[Alan]

It turns out I also have a new bilge drain, waiting to be installed. The outside diameter of the fitting where it enters the hull is 15/16 inch.

As for the bilge drain location, mine (and some other people's) is located one foot to the starboard side of the hull centerline. At the centerline, there was a drain hole, but it's been filled and partially gelcoated. That's also the case with some other people's boats.

We had a thread about this a while back. As I recall, the theory behind the drain plug being moved is that there was fiberglass partially blocking the center hole, so the factory filled it and moved the hole over.

Supporting this theory, at least in my case, is the fact that the gelcoat in the center of the patch is exactly the same color and condition as the gelcoat on the rest of the transom.

[mbowser]

Excellent, thanks very much.
I am taking out the self bailer this weekend and will be able to see whats happening in there once I drill it out. If it's clear in that lower position I may install the bilge drain there.
I don't plan on reinstalling the self bailer, it never worked very well and while I don't do any racing, I can't imagine that bulb hanging down is very good for drag.