Drains plugged

[ronjon444]

I have a 1981 Sea Ray Amberjack. There are 2 storage areas in the floor that get water in them and the drains (90 degrees) do not drain. Need help with the best ways to clear these out. Probably clogged with leaves. Had to vacuum out the water this fall.

TX,
RonJon

 

[craig stevens]

Re: Drains plugged

i used an air compressor for mine and blew backwards first because the clog was close to the elbow

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Drains plugged

I agree with craig stevens, use an air compressor to blow from the outlet in. Are you sure you don't have a dirt dobber problem?

My uncles boat got clogged up on the outlet fitting end of the bilge one time and he ended up nearly sinking his boat. He took it to a marina and they sort of had a laugh, he nearly sunk his boat over a stupid dirt dobber's nest. You could also get a strong stiff wire to snake down in the hole if it turned out to be something like a dirt dobber clog.

 

[ronjon444]

Re: Drains plugged

My aft bilge seems to pump out the boat fine and I don't notice any nests. I am not sure where these tubes drain to but I think they just dump into the aft bilge / engine area under the floor. Hope I explained this well enough.

Is there a reason to blow from the exit area as opposede to the drain source?

tX
RonJon

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Drains plugged

In my opinion blowing from the outlet in, there will be no chance on blowing whatever is stopping the hole up in deeper. If you blow from the entrance side you might just blow the clog deeper and deeper.

I am having a hard time trying to figure out what area you are talking about, but I'm about ready for bed and I'm not working at 100% right now lol. Think of cleaning a stopped up chimney they start from the top (output) and unclog the chimney.

 

[ronjon444]

Re: Drains plugged

Thanks for the advice and get some shut eye.

RonJon

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Drains plugged

Your welcome, and good luck. And I need it lol
Come back on the thread and let us know if you got it fixed when you get it fixed alright.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Drains plugged

I'd be careful about what you jam into those drains. If they drain into the bilge, the lines probably have a check valve in them that prevent bilge water from backing up into those compartments.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Drains plugged

Good point Silvertip. That's getting bad, even after I installed check valves on my boat I wasn't even thinking about them being a possibility on your boat. So if you use a wire of any type to snake through after all beware. I would say if you have check valves installed and you can get to them if you haven't already, then I would remove them if you got them and then do the snaking or blowing through.

P.S. :redface: Who ranked this thread I've never been a part of a ranked thread before lol.

 

[Hashi]

Re: Drains plugged

i used an air compressor for mine and blew backwards first because the clog was close to the elbow

That's what I do and use a shop vac to vacuum the debris.

 

[ronjon444]

Re: Drains plugged

Thanks for the input and good point, I will look for check valves an work in the appropriate directions to not drive debris deeper. It does not appear that taking the 90 degree connectors apart is a good idea (unless intending to change them) .
Tx
RonJon

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: Drains plugged

I've used a hose to unclog mine before... just squirted water up in it real hard (I don't have an air compressor)

 

[ronjon444]

Re: Drains plugged

Here is the fix. These storage areas drained into thew aft bilge. Water pressure did not work from the bottom up or top down. AIR PRESSURE from the bottom up finally blew back out the debris and did not wreck the drain tubes. It made quite a mess. Once the tube was unclogged I vacuumed the mess and sprayed the tube with some Simple Green. Then sprayed water up and down the tubes a few times to make sure they were good and clean. Now they drain fine.

I appreciate all your recomendations.

RonJon