my scupper solution(kind of)pictures

[bigeasy1]

The first mistake I made during my restoration on the 23 Tsunami,was not putting the scuppers out the transom.I should have done it when I had easy access to the back.Then again,maybe it wouldn't have worked very well considering that the boat sits low in the stern from the weight of the kicker motor and down riggers.
Eventually I'm going to install two additional drains next to the originals,but I'm going to drain them into a sealed catch basin in the bilge with an automatic bilge pump in it.This way,I can leave the original thru deck scuppers plugged,yet still use the washdown on fish blood and slime.

Until then,I came up with this solution,and have to say they work very well.Here's what I did.

**A piece of 3/4" copper tube about 2-1/2" long.
**Squeezed a piece of 1/4" od soft copper tube in a vise and made two strips about 3/16"
** Rolled the strip into a spiral
** soldered the spiral into the end of the tube
** cut the longest fingers off a 9 mil thick nitrile glove
** Bent two tiny tabs on the top of the tube to prevent it from falling thru into the water
** slid the glove finger over the end and secured it with electrical tape
** Voila! put them in the scupper drains and they work great.

The nitrile finger works like a check valve/duckbill flapper and collapses when water tries to enter from the lake/ocean,yet opens easily, letting any water on deck to drain out.
The spiral is only to prevent the rubber from reversing it self up into the tube and letting water in.
I have to say they work remarkably well,and trolled over a week everyday from mornong to late afternoon,and never had any water enter the boat from them,yet the wash down ld drained very well.Every so often,I put the wash down nozzle into the tube and flush any slime or debris that could build up on that spiral.
I've also used pieces of 1/16" brass rod instead of the spiral,both work well.

Here's a few pics. ... The Camera settings were very large,so the pics are enlarged way to much but I didn't bother to re size them.

[McGillicuddy]

WTG, John. A new and improved variant of the vortex...wonder how brass and copper relate in a saltwater scene...guessin' they'll go green faster

[bigeasy1]

Thanks Gillie,
I thought about the salt water effect on the copper, and figured that the life span would be less than fresh water.They're easy enough to make in a short amount of time, so I have several made up In the boat.In my case its all fresh water use, although I take them out when at the slip.
I think if they were removed and rinsed at the end of the days use, they would last quite a while in the salt.

[McGillicuddy]

Good point, John - I think I'm gonna re-visit this.

[Bushwacker]

Looks good John! One advantage of the copper pipe relative to Fellowship's PVC plugs is that flow area is much bigger! Where do you get the nitril gloves you're using? They look thicker than the ones I'm using.

I've attached a couple of pics of Fellowship's design, although I've modified them by carving away most of the top with a Dremel tool so they don't stick up much above the brass tube. The second one is discolored because it was in the boat in the water in the Keys for a week; used it again a couple days ago. I don't cut off the tip of the glove, but just poke a slit in it with an X-Acto knife. You do have to sort of wad up the glove finger so it doesn't get pinched between the brass tube and O-ring when you insert it. The longer fingers seem to seal best but are a little easier to pinch if you're not careful.

They work pretty well, especially for diving or fishing where you're gonna have water on the deck anyway. If you're anchored with folks sitting in the back a little water will sometimes seep in. Haven't had much trouble with them trying to flow backwards, but putting a piece of wire across the hole at bottom of the PVC fitting would stop that.

[PharmD2B31]

I have a question regarding scuppers....... on both of my Contenders the scuppers are in the floor of the boat and are routed via hose to the most lower portion of the boat out the transom via a thru hull.

My questions is, why not do the Seacraft like this instead of routing them directly almost straight back out the transom???

[Old'sCool]

PharD, it kinda depends where the waterline is in relation to the deck; especially when loaded. I ran my 23' straight through out the transom.

[bigeasy1]

Denny,
I got the Gloves at an "Advanced auto parts" store.If I remember right they were .9 mill.
They are much thicker than the ones most of us get from fiberglass suppliers,and far far thicker than the disposable Latex gloves.
They also last a long long time.they don't get gummy or deteriorate like the latex does.

I also used the pvc vortex drains,and went to the copper,because I had a lot of it kickin around,and yes the larger I.D. does make them drain faster.

I have to say that I love the boat:every day on the water with it makes me happy like a kid at christmas or birthday.I love how it handles,I love how it fishes,how it looks,with its timeless design,and how it acts like a much larger boat.I love how it gathers so many nice comments at the marina.I could go on and on.

BUT!! I HATE THE SCUPPERS" if only they had raised the deck even just a couple inches,it would have been an improvement.Oh well, it's a small price to pay for such a beautiful machine.I wouldn't trade it for anything,and if I wasn't such an old geezer and had unlimited finances,I'd have several of them.I'd love to have one of every model that was made.
Guess I'll leave that up to Flying Frizzle,he seems well on his way there.

[Denijon]

What you've got there is a " duck bill check valve". There is a company that
makes them. smallest is 1/2". It looks like the nozzle on a Woopie Cushion.

DJ

[Capt Chuck]

Originally Posted by Denijon

What you've got there is a " duck bill check valve".
It looks like the nozzle on a Woopie Cushion.

Oh that's just great! My wife will like 'em, Every time I go to the transom and check the baits it will sound like I shit my pants