deck plate aft of centerboard trunk

[mbowser]

Has anyone installed a deckplate aft of the centerboard trunk? I am considering doing this because I am having trouble removing accumulated water in the enclosed bilge and can't seem to get all of it when I use one of the forward deck plates that are alongside the trunk (used for access to the centerboard through bolt).

I am concerned about just blindly cutting into deck in that area because I don't want to cut through any stringers or other structural pieces that may affect the strength.

[Sean McGuire]

Does your boat have a bilge drain in the transom at the stern? I find mine works pretty well. Usually, I open it along with the cockpit drain on the ramp when I take the boat out of the water. Any water in either place goes out the back since the boat is on an angle. I guess if you have the boat moored or in a marina slip then you might accumulate more in the bilge. I would try to figure out where the water might be coming in before cutting holes in the deck.

Sean McGuire
1984 DSII "Iona"

[mbowser]

Does your boat have a bilge drain in the transom at the stern?

I don't think so, I have a drain that is located on the transom about 6 inches above the stern and a self bailer that hasn't worked in many years. I don't know where I would put a bilge drain on the transom. It's kind of hard to describe, but it seems that there would be no space between the bottom of the boat and the floor pan well (where the self bailer is).

[persephone]

While I have not installed a deckplate in that area I can fill you in on what you would find.
I had a Javelin, same construction as a DS2, which at the end of it's life I removed the entire transom. I have pictures at home that I can post or e-mail if you want.
Where the well comes down (near the self bailer) O'day filled the gap between the outer hull and the deck well with a filler putty. There is only a small gap (less than an inch). So you are correct that a drain won't fit right at the center line. Going forward from there I do not believe there are any stringers or supports that run across the boat. The Javelin had stringers running the length of the boat about 1.5 feet out from the center line. They installed the hull drain outside this stringer, thus any water in between the stringers was trapped and could not be drained. On the jav, there was room to install a drain inside the stringer but to the side of the cockpit well. You may be able to do this on a DS2 as well. If so I would install one on either side of the well. With drains from the bilge to outside you can tip the boat up and most of the water will drain out.
Good luck. Let me know if you want some pictures.

[Alan]

The drain is on the outside of the transom. I've found that I can get nearly all of the water out by jacking the front of the boat up (or, as posted earlier, do it on the ramp). When I got the boat, the transom drain hole was clogged so I poked into it with a long screwdriver - sudden gusher!

[mbowser]

Thanks for the help everyone, I like the idea of adding the drainholes on the transom, but I'm a little wary of drilling in blind (even with your pix persephone).

[Sean McGuire]

I can take some measurements on mine if you like. I think you would be pretty safe drilling in the same spot on yours. My fitting is glued into the fiberglass and has a screw-in plastic plug. You can find them at any marine supply store.

Sean McGuire
1984 DSII "Iona"

[mbowser]

I can take some measurements on mine if you like. I think you would be pretty safe drilling in the same spot on yours. My fitting is glued into the fiberglass and has a screw-in plastic plug. You can find them at any marine supply store.

Sean McGuire
1984 DSII "Iona"

That would be fantastic, any pictures would be great as well.

Thanks