by badgley » Tue Nov 27, 2018 12:40 pm
Late reply here, but I also have an '82 DSII and my drain holes are the same way. I thought the same thing at first, but I've since come to realize that I don't think that having them drain completely is really their primary purpose. I also agree that lowering them starts to interfere with the curve and joint between the bulkhead and the floor. I think the key is to just get used to the idea that the cuddy is not necessarily expected to stay dry on this boat during sailing (e.g., the CB hole can also launch water in there.) So really they are just meant to drain enough that you don't have significant weight sloshing around.
If you really want the boat to stay dry when not sailing, I can't recommend a cover highly enough. It keeps our boat bone dry without worrying about all of these things, not to mention keeping leaves, bird poop, UV damage, etc. all to a minimum. We got the SLO cover and it fits perfectly. It's a few hundred bucks, but probably the best money I spent on the boat. Once you get your boat cleaned up, it's amazing how long it stays in nice shape when covered.
Brian Badgley
1982 DS II #10911 EGRETTA
Blacksburg, VA, USA