Thread subject: Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos :: Explain? how to remove copper drain tubes.
Posted by Ivan Moscoso on 05/16/10 - 5:24 AM
#1
I just purchase a 1982, 17’ Sport.
The boat is in mint conditions but the drain tubes do not look good from the inside "they are corroded"
Please can someone explain? How to remove them and how to install new ones.
Thanks,
Edited by Joe Kriz on 04/24/14 - 11:04 AM
Posted by HarleyFXDL on 05/16/10 - 6:11 AM
#3
I used a pair of dikes or metal snips. Be careful not to chip the gelcoat. Bend in one side and pull the tube out from the other end.
Posted by JohnnyCW on 05/16/10 - 8:31 AM
#4
When I replaced my brass drain tubes, I sleeved the holes with fiberglass tubes first. That way any failure in the bras tube or grommets would never allow water intrusion into the hull.
I used new brass tubing as a mandrel to roll my fiberglass around. Wrapped the brass with a layer of wax paper first. I rolled maybe three layers of glass around the tube then applied soaked resin. I then tightly wrapped the resin soaked fiberglass with electrical tape and used a needle to poke a lot of holes in the tape to allow excess resin to escape. Its a poor-man's vacuum bagging method. Once the resin hardened, I slid the fiberglass off. The existing tubing holes had to be enlarged slightly to fit the fiberglass tubes. I did so with a Dremel tool. Epoxied the fiberglass tubes in place and sanded them flush with the inside and outside of the hull. Then I installed the new brass tubes in the conventional manner.
I'm don't trust the PVC pipe method though I know its common. After many of my own tests, I found that epoxy, polyester, Marine Tex, and even 5200 will all peel right off the PVC. Even with the PVC being scuffed first.
Posted by Tom W Clark on 05/16/10 - 9:54 AM
#5
The drain tubes are brass, not copper. There are any number of ways to remove them but I usually just collapse them in on themselves by holding a large flat screwdriver against the lip of a tube, perpendicular to the hull, and strike the screwdriver shaft with a hammer to drive the lip in.
Then I used a pair of pliers to twist and crimp the tube in on itself until it is smaller than the hole through the hull and push it out.
Be careful not to chip the gel coat around the hole doing this.
Drain tube replacement is an FAQ. There are any number of discussions about how to do this.
Edited by Joe Kriz on 07/29/16 - 6:49 PM
Posted by MW on 05/16/10 - 1:10 PM
#6
I used needle nosed pliers after collapsing it in on itself with a flat head screw driver.
Posted by Ivan Moscoso on 05/18/10 - 4:42 PM
#7
Thanks, your opinions were very help full.
I will start the proyect and advise my results.
Posted by MW on 05/19/10 - 3:28 AM
#8
As stated above bend it down carefully at the outside lip, slide a flat head screw driver in and press down to make it flat (little at a time is ok), once she's flat, try and roll it over on itself. When I did mine it came out in chunks foreward out of the hole, it was really rotted..