transom brass drain tubes

[1stpriority]

I am replacing the 4 transom brass drain tubes and was thinking of using pvc pipe instead. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[wca_tim]

Re: transom brass drain tubes

What happens if (when) it cracks? I suspect you would be needing a new transom eventually... if not worse... Why not just use brass?

 

[danond]

Re: transom brass drain tubes

Yuck. PVC and brass are in the same category for me - crappy solutions.

Take the tubes out, epoxy-seal the holes, and screw/seal a drain fitting onto the back of the boat. You can get the kind that have a plug-keeper (no more lost drain plugs).

Plus, if/when they fail, 2 screws and some sealant and you're back in business.

 

[Mark42]

Re: transom brass drain tubes

Yeah, skip the brass tubes. They corrode and you need a flare tool to make them look good.

danond posted a great solution I've never seen before. Nice looking product.

There are also simpler plastic tubes available in two piece design. Slip each end in from separate sides of the transom with some epoxy or sealer on them and they seal together, and have nice finished radius ends that look nice. Cheap too. Get the larger 1" size.

Do a search in the marine store for "drain tubes" and you will find quite a few options.

 

[DualCore]

Re: transom brass drain tubes

I just stumbled across this the other day and thought it look interesting. I'm thinking about trying one on my boat:

DRAIN- ONE -WAY SAFETY PLUG
Patented one way safety plug lets water out of your bilge but not back in! Ideal for every boater who has ever forgotten to put in the plug. 1/2 NPT. Features our exclusive plug handle which allows the plug to be tightened and loosened with a wrench, screwdriver or even a nail!


P/N: 50032270
UPC: 737765322701

 

[danond]

Re: transom brass drain tubes

Those brass ones work well, too, though my transom drain was too close to the bottom of the hull so I couldn't use one. Plus it doesn't have a plug keeper, which I really liked on the nylon/plastic ones.

 

[rucaradio]

Re: transom brass drain tubes

Dan,

Can you post a link where you found that nylon drain tube? I'll be needing one in a few weeks when I get my new transom straightened around.

Thanks,
-D

 

[danond]

Re: transom brass drain tubes

I just did a google image search after searching for "transom drain plug". The one I bought came off the shelf at the local boat shop. Not sure where to get them online, sorry.

 

[DualCore]

Re: transom brass drain tubes

The iboats.com store has them in black:

http://www.iboats.com/Nylon_Drain_Plugs/dm/*******.191666524--**********.768158259--view_id.470220

I haven't found anyplace that has them in white yet...

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: transom brass drain tubes

When I re did my transom I had to replace three of them, the white plastic ones that were in there were total garbage the sun ate them to nothing in the splashwell. The brass one in the bilge was perfect 20+ years later. So I decided to go back with all brass they were cheap, easy to put in and looked great when finished. I'm not in salt water so corosion isn't as much of an issue. I didn't use a flair tool they dont work all that well so I made my own method of install and flair it was easy and only took about 30 minutes to do all three, plus they were an off the shelf item at a local boat store. PM me if you want more info on how to install easy.

 

[Mark42]

Re: transom brass drain tubes

When I re did my transom I had to replace three of them, the white plastic ones that were in there were total garbage the sun ate them to nothing in the splashwell...... .

Wow! Thanks for that update. I've been steering people to the plastic ones because of the ease of install. But now I'll tell them to get the cast brass plate with the threaded pipe plug instead. Thats what my Bayliner came with and it is bullet proof. The brass tubes in my MFG got taken out by the salt water, although it did take quite a few years! So far the cast brass fitting isn't staining in the salt.

 

[danond]

Re: transom brass drain tubes

Everything on a boat eventually fails. The issue here is not whether it fails, but whether it's easy to fix once it does.

This is the issue with the brass tubes. They leak when they fail - and you won't know it because your transom is absorbing the water.

Skip the tubes and go with an external-mount threaded type after epoxy-sealing the drain hole in the transom so there's no exposed wood. If you go plastic/nylon, you'll replace it more often than the brass, i.e. once every 5 years instead of once every 10.

Cost of a drain tube failing = new transom

Cost of a threaded, externally mounted drain failing = new $10 drain fitting and a few blobs of sealant.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: transom brass drain tubes

Danond....your spot on m8...

1. they are "production" boats guys..they do not manufacture boats with all things considered ..

2. Replacement of Through Hull fittings no matter what should be better then OEM specs. .. IE what Dan said..or what I do is if the hole is cored then I die grind/scrape/ dental pic .. whatever I can to remove said core from around fitting hole. then pack with fiberglass.. re-install fitting with 4200 above/ 5200 below.

3. dont forget that in manufacturing .. they do not "prep" the fitting OR the gelcoat . do it right.. prep..dry fit.. pencil line your fitting and sand/prep fitting surface !

4. In my sailing days I can tell you one thing.. IF I can take a hammer and knock off a through hull fitting.. forget about wet transom..were now talking SINKING ! DO NOT REPLACE WITH NYLON OR PLASTIC !

Floating pieces of wood .. etc. at 30 knots in just the right spot could break a plastic fitting and leave you with a big hole at the wrong time.

4 cents worth.. YD..

 

[Mark42]

Re: transom brass drain tubes

Danond....your spot on m8...

......

4. In my sailing days I can tell you one thing.. IF I can take a hammer and knock off a through hull fitting.. forget about wet transom..were now talking SINKING ! DO NOT REPLACE WITH NYLON OR PLASTIC !

Thats a great test! I can tell you that when I chose through hull fittings, I went with stainless steel (fuel fill, fuel vent, and bilge thru-hull) not only for the safety of metal vs plastic, but even though this boat is a trailer queen, when she is dipped in the acid, er... I mean salt water, I want the hardware to stay shiney.

 

[4runneradam]

Re: transom brass drain tubes

This is the issue with the brass tubes. They leak when they fail - and you won't know it because your transom is absorbing the water.

I just not realized this is exactly what ruined my transom! It was completely rotted out right around the transom, and about halfway to the top of the transom.

You say they leak when they fail....how exactly do they fail? I have the brass one pictured (not a one way though) with the 3 screws. It appears to me that it was sealed by coating it with silicone. It wasn't broken or anything. Still appeared to be in good shape.

I'm wondering if I should replace it with something different this time? I don't want a plastic one, I'll either go with brass or steel.


Would you mind explaining, in layman's terms, how to PROPERLY replace the drain tube so it wont leak? I'm NEW to boat building and fiberglassing. I am replacing the deck and transom on my bayliner outboard. I don't want it to leak.


Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

 

[Mark42]

Re: transom brass drain tubes

I just not realized this is exactly what ruined my transom! It was completely rotted out right around the transom, and about halfway to the top of the transom.

You say they leak when they fail....how exactly do they fail? I have the brass one pictured (not a one way though) with the 3 screws. It appears to me that it was sealed by coating it with silicone. It wasn't broken or anything. Still appeared to be in good shape.

I'm wondering if I should replace it with something different this time? I don't want a plastic one, I'll either go with brass or steel.


Would you mind explaining, in layman's terms, how to PROPERLY replace the drain tube so it wont leak? I'm NEW to boat building and fiberglassing. I am replacing the deck and transom on my bayliner outboard. I don't want it to leak.


Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

The cast brass drain is a good one. But it doesn't go all the way through the transom, like on my Capri. So the hole drilled leaves bare wood exposed to the inside of the bilge, where water can soak in.

I'm taking mine off, sanding the hole, then coating the hole with epoxy. Then the drain plate will be reinstalled. I probed the transom from the inside with screwdriver, so I know there is no rot. Got to get it sealed ASAP!!!

This is the "garboard" drain that is on the Capri.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: transom brass drain tubes

Hello 4runner..

If you really dont want water to leak ( into your core ) then replace approx 1" around the fitting with fiberglass.

ON THE INSIDE, hole saw the wood out. DO NOT cut into the outer fiberglass lams. Pack with resin-chop mat-cabosil peanut butter like mohair filler ( you make this on your own ). Only fill about 3/8" at a time so you dont over heat the packing. keep filling after each has time to start cooling off. After filled, grind around repair and layup a layer or 2 of mat and woving ( or biax etc .. good 18 oz glass ).

Drill your hole for fitting from outside..sand your fitting and gelcoat for prep. clean with acetone goop the crap outa it with 3m 5200 and bed down .

Of coarse dry fit and predrill your fitting before you clean and bed

Good luck ... YD

 

[jonesg]

Re: transom brass drain tubes

When I re did my transom I had to replace three of them, the white plastic ones that were in there were total garbage the sun ate them to nothing in the splashwell. The brass one in the bilge was perfect 20+ years later. So I decided to go back with all brass they were cheap, easy to put in and looked great when finished. I'm not in salt water so corosion isn't as much of an issue. I didn't use a flair tool they dont work all that well so I made my own method of install and flair it was easy and only took about 30 minutes to do all three, plus they were an off the shelf item at a local boat store. PM me if you want more info on how to install easy.

pray tell, how do you flare without the magic flaring tool.?
I need to install a brass tube in my outboard engine well.

 

[jonesg]

Re: transom brass drain tubes

Hello 4runner..

If you really dont want water to leak ( into your core ) then replace approx 1" around the fitting with fiberglass.

ON THE INSIDE, hole saw the wood out. DO NOT cut into the outer fiberglass lams. Pack with resin-chop mat-cabosil peanut butter like mohair filler ( you make this on your own ). Only fill about 3/8" at a time so you dont over heat the packing. keep filling after each has time to start cooling off. After filled, grind around repair and layup a layer or 2 of mat and woving ( or biax etc .. good 18 oz glass ).

Drill your hole for fitting from outside..sand your fitting and gelcoat for prep. clean with acetone goop the crap outa it with 3m 5200 and bed down .

Of coarse dry fit and predrill your fitting before you clean and bed

Good luck ... YD

right about now my seacast transom is looking pretty sweet,
water in my transom?
see if I care.

And not only that it only cost me...well uh ..
it did cost more...I guess..

maybe when I sell the boat I'll keep the transom.

 

[1stpriority]

Re: transom brass drain tubes

Well I took out the brass tubes and the wood was fine, thank god grady did the right thing and bedded the old tubes with 5200. I think I will just sand a little wood out of the holes and epoxy. Then when that dries I will bed new brass tubes with 5200 and put them in, I bought the flarring tool to make it look like a factory job.