It might be a good idea to inspect the propane locker drain line through hull. While we were motoring in my 26U the bilge pump started to operate. After some searching I found the plastic through hull fitting for the propane locker drain line had sheared off flush with the inside of the transom. Now it was held in position only by a little bit of silicone sealant. This through hull normally is above the water line. However under power, at about 5 knots the transom squats and the fitting is under the water.
We stopped the boat so the through hull was above the water. I then pulled off the hose and tapped in a tapered wooden dowel. The dowels are tied at each through hull.
The fitting failed across the screw threads, probably by fatigue. When I replace the through hull I’ll use a high grade fitting. I’ll also add a shutoff valve although in this case it wouldn’t have helped. I’d never thought this “above water” through hull would turn out to be a problem. However If a through hull was going to fail I’m glad it was this one.
Thanks, good tip to look at. I had one of the cockpit drains fail the same way. I think it is time to change them all.
Frank Anderson
Galene #166 26C
Winthrop, Ma.
Any of those plastic through hulls that are above the waterline get eaten up by the sun. If you touch them and they feel chalky, they will fail at the most inopportune moment.
Joe Valinoti
S/V IL Gatto NS30U #221 (1984)
Sea Harbour Yacht Club
Oriental, NC
When I had a refit a couple of years ago, I had all the plastic through hulls replaced with metal ones as I felt that they were nearing the end of their lives and any one of them failing would be a major problem even though they were at or above the water line. All of them were chalky and did not give one confidence in their integrety. They had lasted for 30 years. I would imagine good quality bronze fittings would be best in salt water.
On our 26C the propane locker drain pipe bends down then bends up to the thru hull fitting. The bottom of the bend fills with water so that any propane gas tying to escape overboard stays in the boat. Has anyone come up with a fix for this problem?
Allan and Judy Maclatchy. N26C Swale Ottawa Canada