Thread subject: Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos :: Glassing drain tubes

Posted by Weatherly on 10/25/14 - 8:26 AM
#27

I am replacing all three through hull brass tubes on my 1971 BW16 hull with new brass. I do not use o-rings; the o-rings installed at the factory were the cheapest way to seal the brass to the hull and the first thing to deteriorate and then allow water infiltration. Today we have caulk to seal the brass fitting. I use boatLIFE Life-Calk (sic) white, 38ml small tube. The splashwell hole on my BW16 is 2 1/8 inches. You can buy a 1x3 inch brass or a 1x2 7/8 inches; either one will need to be cut before flaring.

You cannot use epoxy and then expect the gelcoat to adhere; it does not. You can however apply epoxy over gelcoat.

I filled my center splashwell through-hull hole and redrilled on the end, so as to have better drainage to the side of the outboard motor.

I removed perfectly good look brass drain tubes. As soon as I put the screwdriver onto the tube, the brass crumbled. And the interior hull core was damp.

The most important brass through hull tube to replace is the one located in the rigging tunnel on the BW16 hull. If the brass and/or oring is compromised, water will saturate the foam core.