Camano 31 roof drains

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NCheaven

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 15, 2017
Messages
261
Location
USA
Vessel Name
Boatwright
Vessel Make
Camano 31
Fairly often I have to remove leaves, spider/bug stuff, from the drain holes on the cabin top. Generally, when I come to the boat (long distance...) there is standing water on the cabin top, held up by clogged drains. Does anyone have a good suggestion for improving the drainage from the cabin top - flybridge sole?
 
I am not familiar with your boat but maybe make an upside down basket to sit over the drain to stop the leaves from getting to the drain. Maybe some S/S screen would be a good choice. It would keep the leaves and junk back far enough that the water could trickle through and drain. Just have to devise a way to keep it in place while you are gone, maybe a bungee?
 
It's a long-standing problem with our boats. Some people stuff a little mesh pad just before the drain to catch the debris but let the water through, others have gone so far as to drill out larger diameter drain holes.

For me, I just unplug them from underneath in the cockpit, but I'm not in an area where I get direct leaf litter or other heavy debris.
 
What I was thinking about was a strum box but upside down. It would keep the leaves back away from the drain and let the water through. Make one out of screening and maybe put a weight on the top of it to hold it in place if you can’t bungee it in place.
 
I read somewhere that Bob Warman, the designer of the Camano, once said that the only mistake he made on the Camano was letting the stern sit too high. That let rain water collect in the front of the flybridge. I fought that for many years, without success. I even put a Whale bilge pump up there to try to keep it dry. No luck.
 
I don't have a problem with water collecting at the front of the flybridge. Everything is sloped fine to the stern, it's just the drains themselves get plugged.

I read somewhere that Bob Warman, the designer of the Camano, once said that the only mistake he made on the Camano was letting the stern sit too high. That let rain water collect in the front of the flybridge. I fought that for many years, without success. I even put a Whale bilge pump up there to try to keep it dry. No luck.
 
I drilled 1" holes in the fiberglass cap directly over the drains, I just blast them with a hose from time to time.
 
Tacking on to this old thread... I just purchased a 2003 Camano Troll. I think it is hull 180?

QCM F8180C203.

My flybridge drains have the same issue with backing up. Mine have flexible black corrugated tubing that runs from the drains, around the corner, so they drain onto the toe rail. The tubes are about 16-18 inches long. See attached pic.

I am thinking a previous owner added them, maybe he preferred draining to toe rail over draining to cockpit?

I am guessing the extra bends may cause slower water flow, even more clogging etc. Can someone confirm if this was a customization, or if the tubes run straight down into the cockpit, or no tubes?

My current marina is near a red gravel road, so I get a lot of fine iron rich grit on the top deck. I am thinking I would rather wash it down the cockpit than off the toe rails, but this is all new to me...

Thanks in advance, this forum has been a wealth of knowledge!

Bob
 

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  • Camano Troll Flybridge Drain Lines.jpg
    Camano Troll Flybridge Drain Lines.jpg
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I use clear plastic smooth hoses, and mine drop straight down for 6 inches or so before bending around the corner. So, when the drain is not blocked, they flow nicely, emptying about 18 inches below the drain hole, and over the toe rail. So, the toe rail does collect some debris from the fly bridge sole. But, the cockpit stays cleaner. I'm mostly out of leaf range, but spider web debris backs up a bit. Full fuel tanks and at season end empty water tanks might help a little, or filling a covered large plastic storage box with water in the lazarett might help - I haven't tried that....or taking off the anchor and rode from the bow....lots of things that might help a little. Drilling holes under the cowling just ahead of the braces to port and starboard forward of the FB helm would help, but getting the aim right is essential, perhaps inserting and glueing in a plastic tube for that. But, I'm usually at the boat in late December, and again in early March, and can clean the drain holes at the back of the FB.

Using StarBrite Deck Cleaner (not wax - haven't tried that) makes derbris wash off of all deck surfaces including Non-Skid. Great Stuff.

As for Bob Warman, he did a great job on the 31', but cutting in additional drain outlets in the toe rail on the side decks would have helped the water drain off in several places on the side deck and not just the back and the one cut through the toe rail.
 
Tacking on to this old thread... I just purchased a 2003 Camano Troll. I think it is hull 180?

QCM F8180C203.

My flybridge drains have the same issue with backing up. Mine have flexible black corrugated tubing that runs from the drains, around the corner, so they drain onto the toe rail. The tubes are about 16-18 inches long. See attached pic.

I am thinking a previous owner added them, maybe he preferred draining to toe rail over draining to cockpit?

I am guessing the extra bends may cause slower water flow, even more clogging etc. Can someone confirm if this was a customization, or if the tubes run straight down into the cockpit, or no tubes?

My current marina is near a red gravel road, so I get a lot of fine iron rich grit on the top deck. I am thinking I would rather wash it down the cockpit than off the toe rails, but this is all new to me...

Thanks in advance, this forum has been a wealth of knowledge!

Bob
The black corrugated tubing is original. The drains are too small. I drilled holes directly above & shoot the hose straight down to clear out the drain.
 
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