Drain Plug for 29' Open

[Dennis]

Ok, I know this sounds like an odd questions, but I purchased a '93 Luhrs 29' Open and in the winter months in the northeast, I'm used to leaving the drain plug open. However, when I winterized the boat, I noticed there were no drain plugs. So I'm interested in seeing what others do for the winter with possible water build up in the bilge.

I've checked on the boat and had to drain the water with a sump pump. I put antifreeze in the bottom to keep it from freezing and cracking and doing damage, but would like to know what others have done?

[mongo75]

I've heard that some folks will leave a light bulb on in the bildge to keep it above freezing. One of those automotive haning lights with like a 200w or better light buld should do the trick. Just check it every now and then as it will eventually burn out. If that doesn't work, can't you just cover it with a strong tarp, to keep the snow out?

[Rusty]

Be carefull with this method. Mr brother did this and nearly burned his boat up when the fixture/wire shorted after prolonged use.

Rusty

[HisDoghouse]

Ditto the comments that you need to be very careful when using heat sources that are not designed to be used in an engine compartment. A light bulb or a space heater can end your boating season before it begins, and can make you liable for any damages the ensuing fire causes on nearby boats or buildings.

If you get as much of the water out as you can, and add in antifreeze, what more are you trying to protect against? When water freezes, it expands, and when it's in a confined space (like a pipe or a hoze), that's when it can cause problems by splitting the pipe or hose.

If the water is just laying in the bilge, and it freezes, it will expand but as it is not contained, will cause no harm (presuming your bilge pump is not in the water).

[Dennis]

The way the marina has set the boat on land, most of the water runs to the bow. This puts my bilge pumps and head hoses into the water. I am worried about the water freezing between the stringers and splitting the haul. Water seems to be coming in from the stern hatch storage compartment. I've covered hatch but I'm still getting, what I consider, a lot of water.

[HisDoghouse]

The way the marina has set the boat on land, most of the water runs to the bow. This puts my bilge pumps and head hoses into the water. I am worried about the water freezing between the stringers and splitting the haul. Water seems to be coming in from the stern hatch storage compartment. I've covered hatch but I'm still getting, what I consider, a lot of water.

You've got a valid concern about the bilge pumps and head hoses ONLY if they are filled with water and not antifreeze. Just having them immersed in water/ice shouldn't hurt them unless the ice starts moving around (like if the boat was rocked by a wake - not likely on the hard).

Water freezing between the stringers shouldn't crack the hull as long as there is room for it to expand. Presuming it is open above the water (i.e. not filled to the top of an inaccessible void), the ice should expand upwards and not exert pressure to the sides. It will seek the path of least resistance.

Having the boat sit nose down would have driven me crazy. I'm doubting you can get the rocket scientists at your yard to adjust how the boat's sitting. Just something else to check for next year.

OR

You could relocate down our way or points south, keep the boat in the water all year, and not have that worry to contend with. Good luck,

[Maximillion]

Does the hoses from the head go straight into the bilge or do they go to a shower sump? It might be as easy a s filling the hoses with antifreeze to keep them from freezing.

Good Luck

[Dennis]

Thanks for the replies. I feel better and the weather is starting to break now. I will be going to check on it more often and cannot wait to start to get it ready for another season. Last time I checked there wasn't any damage and the antifreeze was doing its job.

In a couple of years, you just might see me down there. This frozen water stuff is for the young at heart. Happy boating.

[Esquire]

I totally agree with Joe, having your boat sit nose down is just not right. Even if your boat had a drain plug it would be located in the stern and would be useless. Just a suggestion if you are getting water through your cockpit hatch, check the gasketing to see if you need to beef it up. That should really be a well sealed hatch. Also, do you do any shrink wrapping there? I am in the great lakes area and shrink wrap every winter. You are dang right about the frozen stuff, we just had 20 inches of lake effect snow last night... can't wait for summer.

[Dennis]

Shrink wrap maybe an option for next year, but I was really looking at winter covers which would only cover the cockpit. This year, we are still waiting for our other boat to sell. It's a 2000 Seamaster 26'. I also have a 18' bassboat, and have a great wife that lets me enjoy my toys as long as she gets to enjoy them too. She's not bad at fishing either.

[mary w.]

Dennis we have had the exact same problem with our 36 this year. The guy at the marina has the bow lower than the stern so that the water is going into the amid ships bilge. We beefed up the gasket around the cockpit hatch but somehow it is still coming in. Not much but enough to make my hubby feel like he needs to go pump it out after every rain. You can bet we will be there next year when the boat gets put on the hard!
On second thought, maybe it's just an excuse for the hubby to go pat her transom.

[Esquire]

Mary,
I've got a 36 too and I found that the cooler/storage area built into the steps going up to the bridge had a drain than drained into the engine room. Every time it rained hard or I washed the boat I got water in my bilge. There is a gasket on this opening but on my boat it doe not seem to do much, you might want to check and see if this is how water is coming in. Perhaps Luhrs remedied this on later models by tying it into an overboard drain.

[mary w.]

That would make sense. We'll check it out.
Thanks much!

[bill danisi]

I have owned three new Luhrs including a 1990 29' open Luhrs.

I don't think Luhrs makes a boat without a drain plug. So I would look for the plug and then get the boat yard to reposition your boat so that it is tipped to the stern.

P.S. Sometimes the plug is screwed in from the inside of the hull. Check it out

Bill

[Dennis]

I have been all over the boat and trust me, there is no drain plug. A guy at the Marina has the exact same boat and he does not have a drain plug either. I just keep pumping it out until next year and will check the cockpit seals to see if they need to be replaced.

[CrazyIslandMoFo]

Just to doubble check, I did find a drain plug under my rudder link at the stern,97'

[Maximillion]

If the boat does have a drain plug, it would be under the rudder shelf in the laz area by the aft bilge pump.