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The Icebox is not draining...

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frants
1st Mate

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USA
55 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/08/2005 : 00:41:23

As I am using the sink the water comes up into the icebox. The drain valve under the stove seems very tight and I am not sure it will break if I try to open it. Any ideas? Thanks.

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2005 : 10:07:05

What year boat do you have?

In my 1988 there is a one-way valve under the stove, near the thru-hull, which allows water from the sink to pass to the holding tank but not return. This valve may be defective on your boat and need replacing.

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2005 : 11:19:43

The drain valve is somewhat infamous for plugging and seizing.

Here's a few questions that will guide our advice.

Is your valve plastic or bronze or (other)?
Does it have a 'bar' handle or does it look kinda like a regular garden water faucet?
Is the valve attached to a pipe with a 'volcano' of fiberglass around it?

Edited by - on

Bill Holcomb
Admiral

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USA
769 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2005 : 13:55:59

Hey Frants,

I finally got completely fed up with the one-way valve in the icebox drain. It would not check the flow of water into the icebox from the sink. And if heeling hard to port with the thru hull valve open, water from outside the boat would flow into the icebox.

I decided to permanently fix the problem by installing an in-line brass ball valve..........fairly inexpensive at Home Depot. Now I can close the valve to prevent water from flowing into the icebox: or open the valve to let ice water flow out of the icebox. I think the whole expense including hose clamps was less than $20.

Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839

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frants
1st Mate

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USA
55 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2005 : 14:35:46

Hi Bill, thank you for your reply. Did you replace the valve while the boat was in the water or on land? Frants <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Bill Holcomb
 Hey Frants,

I finally got completely fed up with the one-way valve in the icebox drain. It would not check the flow of water into the icebox from the sink. And if heeling hard to port with the thru hull valve open, water from outside the boat would flow into the icebox.

I decided to permanently fix the problem by installing an in-line brass ball valve..........fairly inexpensive at Home Depot. Now I can close the valve to prevent water from flowing into the icebox: or open the valve to let ice water flow out of the icebox. I think the whole expense including hose clamps was less than $20.

Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2005 : 14:46:47

If you close the through hull then there should not be a problem doing the bill mod in the water. Bill, thanks for the tip.

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tcox
1st Mate

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USA
32 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2005 : 14:57:03

Frants,

One other thing to look for in case all of the other suggestions fail: My sink water was backing up just as you described. I took out the check valve, but it worked well. I opened the thru-hull valve just a crack to see if it was plugged and NO LAKE WATER CAME IN!! I stuck a short wire through the valve and water began to trickle in. I put on a scuba mask and dove under to find the thru-hull to be masked and painted over. Apparently the P.O. had masked the opening and put on several coats of ablative paint and forgot to take the masking off.

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2005 : 19:40:34

I would be very hesitant to screw around with a factory original Catalina 25 to-hull and gate valve with the boat still in the water. At the very least, I'd suggest being prepared to go over the side, locate the opening, and stuff somthing in it. (The traditional approach being to drive a tapered plug.) And have a fall back plan for an unscheduled haulout.

-- Leon Sisson {a.k.a. Mister Gloom & Doom}

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2005 : 22:20:42

I need to replace my icebox drain hose past the check valve, I may replace the check valve with the brass ball valve while I do it.

Edited by - Frank Hopper on 08/08/2005 22:21:13

Bill Holcomb
Admiral

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USA
769 Posts

Response Posted - 08/09/2005 : 10:33:52

Hi Frants,

Yes, I replaced the one-way valve with a ball valve while the boat was in the water. The thru hull valve was closed, of course.

Leon - You're right about the factory "to-hull" setups. I replaced those with bronze mushroom thru hull fittings some time ago. On Snickerdoodle I figured the "to-hulls" were the weakest part of the boat.

Frank - that kink in the drain hose sure won't help water drain from the ice box. It looks like the hose is too short. I'd get a foot of new hose, a couple elbows, and some hose clamps to make the system drain without a kink. I'd also put a second hose clamp on the sink drain side of the "T".

One of the annual maintenance items that everyone should perform is to tighten the hose clamps on those drain hoses (galley and head). There's no good reason for it, but they seem to loosen each year. BTW: it's a fall maintenance item for Snickerdoodle since she stays in the water year round.

Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839

Edited by - on

John V.
Admiral

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USA
559 Posts

Response Posted - 08/09/2005 : 20:28:11

On the catalina 25 you can't really call that thing in the galley an Ice Box. More like an Ice melting box.
About once every other season I am boarded by canada customs and I have to explain why my ice box is full of wine and scotch. The short explanation is that the Catalina Ice box is useless as an Ice box. and I have solved the problem of the sink water coming into my "wine cellar" by plugging the hole.

As for canada customs, I am only allowed one bottle but the agent said he'd been on so many sailboats that he was willing to jump in the lake if he found a boat with only one bottle. He said "officially" I had only one bottle, and that's all I should declare when I made my phone call to report in.

My advice is forget using the ice box for food storage, and get one of those 5 day coolers. They really work, and use the catalina cooler for dishes or wine or anything but cold goods.

Edited by - John V. on 08/09/2005 20:31:20

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 08/09/2005 : 22:08:21

I used mine for dry storage on my old 25 and I will on my new one, I am just compelled to fix a "system".

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DanM
Captain

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USA
256 Posts

Response Posted - 08/09/2005 : 22:16:50

John V, our marine surveyor advised the same when we bought "Perfect Day". We heeded his advice after we had our first accidental flooding of the icebox with the thru hull valve closed. Now the drain is plugged and the "box" is used for storage of bottles and cans. We followed the surveyor's further advice and removed the "curtain burner" stove. A medium sized picnic cooler nicely fits that space and its top serves as a snack preparation surface. (My mate and I prefer to enjoy cooked meals at the club/marina.)
Does anyone have a suggestion for use of the lockbox on the starboard cockpit seat?

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 08/09/2005 : 22:51:05

A friend of mine plumbed a drain into it and they throw beer and ice in it. Me I am like everyone else, pieces of line, long painter, tiller cover, sail ties.

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 08/09/2005 : 23:15:59

Im with Frank, all my spare line goes in that locker.

I have also removed the water tank on my 1988 TR, put hinges on the top and now use it to store life jackets, spare first aid kit, harness, etc.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/09/2005 : 23:23:14

I found that both the ice box (so to speak) and the galley sink drain better if the hoses don't have any upward "humps" in them. The hump traps air that resists being pushed down and through the thru-hull by the water upstream. A few strategically placed wood blocks can keep the hoses angled steadily downward to the thru-hull. That said, I plan to elimiate the "ice box" drain--who needs ice for their cereal and crackers??

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 08/09/2005 23:24:35

PamC
Navigator

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171 Posts

Response Posted - 08/10/2005 : 11:09:00

I also have icebox drainage "issues". My sink drains fine and doesn't end up in the icebox, but the icebox drains slow and resists giving up the last inch or so of water. The PO added insulation so it actually keeps stuff cold and ice keeps most of the weekend. Any ideas? I'll be revisiting the hoses with an eye out for 'humps' this weekend.

As to the starboard cockpit locker - you must be referring to the 'bungy box'

! Keeps them out of the way of snagging everything as they are want to do (I like to think they're just affectionate

) But I'm pretty sure they're reproducing in there. If only I could get them to produce the size I need at any given time! I also keep a bottle of alcohol for the curtain burner in there and propane for the Magma. I'm one of the few people who doesn't mind the alcohol stove. We've come to an 'understanding' thanks to some excellent info from the PO. Of course waiting for it to boil water for my morning coffee (at close to 5000' alt) can be trying.

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 08/10/2005 : 15:24:33

"Any ideas?"

Use frozen 1 gal plastic water jugs for your 'ice blocks'... they don't need to drain and you can use the nice cold melt water for drinking water.

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DanM
Captain

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USA
256 Posts

Response Posted - 08/10/2005 : 21:08:35

Okay. Thanks for the suggestions, Frank, Al and Pam. Sorry to get off the icebox question, but I liked those answers...especialy Pam's cuddley bungys. I usually pass those things to whoever is nearest/in the gangway and then we search for them upon closing up. Now the ties and tiller cover will have their own special place! Still, I'm curious why it has a lock hasp and a sealing gasket, but no drain.

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Brooke Willson
Admiral

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USA
983 Posts

Response Posted - 08/11/2005 : 09:50:39

My icebox doesn't drain either, especially since I put a ten cent rubber stopper in it and use it to store the teakettle and cook kit. An igloo cooler keeps food cold longer, is easy to clean out, and can be carried on and off the boat. I can even keep the cooler in the cockpit for ready access. The icebox issue is an oft-repeated thread here, and many of us think it and the mainsheet design are the two real blunders on the C25.

Brooke

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JV
Deckhand

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9 Posts

Response Posted - 08/14/2005 : 22:57:06

I replaced the one way valve with a plastic valve that is closed except when I wish to drain the icebox. I also placed a valve to close off the aft sink faucet. I found that with a full water tank and heavily heeling on a starboard tack the water will pour out the faucet but will not drain in the flat-bottomed heeling sink. I also added a tee and valve below the companionway on the line from tank to aft faucet to enable tank draining into the bilge. This is also the only chance I get to test the electric and manual bilge pumps in my dry bilge. I added a shut off valve on the forward faucet but don't see a need for it. --1983 C25(3456), fixed keel.

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jackfuller
1st Mate

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USA
29 Posts

Response Posted - 08/31/2005 : 13:49:07

I'm replacing my to-hull with a thru hull (under the galley). Any suggestions about correcting the angle that the thru hull makes as it comes out the bottom? I've seen a fairing block used on a Morgan I had. What kind of wood and how to attach it to the hull? Epoxy, 5200.?
Thanks,
Jack '79 C25

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MattL
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 08/31/2005 : 16:21:58

The problem I had was caused by leaving water bottles with paper lables in the ice box. The lables would fall off and plug the hole. The plug I had was very tenacious and took quite a bit to get cleared out. I used a combination of pressurized water and a long wire. and disconnected the hoses too. Not much water came in till I plugged the hole with a bung.
Now I only buy water bottles with a plastic lable.

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ronrryan
Admiral

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USA
561 Posts

Response Posted - 08/31/2005 : 21:15:02

On Orion: (1) Icebox (so-called) Dry storage (2)Five-day cooler for food ( nowadays we go to Yacht clubs, mostly) (3) Aft shallow locker is ideal for propane or butane botles (we use a one-burner butane mostly now, inpast have used evry type--alcohol, kerosene, wood/coal, briquets, propane both camp stove and full rig with oven)the admiral prefers propane. Fair winds, Ron in SW FL

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sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 09/02/2005 : 01:21:06

Well, here's my method as the uninsulated box was not good. Boxed the underside and sink side with 2 inch foam and caulked each joint, removed top counter and drilled 1/4 inch holes through top edge every four inches. Foamed each hole until foam expanded out each hole. Added second drain, hooked them together and used plastic storage tray to drain into with bilge pump with float switch which pumps up and over into the cable hose of my swing keel Cat 25. Have WM 3 position switch with fuse and light for control. Sink drain is by inself with own ball valve. Cut icebox top by 1/3 and hinged so entire top does not have to be removed for access. Just back again from another 5 week cruise of the NW and a very useful icebox. Sure wish that the box had been insulated by Catalina in the first place.

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