Drain holes?

[Duquette5]

Took delivery of the 26x a couple of weeks ago and have been too sick to go out and start any planning until today. She's going to need a really solid cleaning, some gel coat repair, a little glass work on the cabin top, and her mast replaced. Nothing I'm afraid of and am actually very excited about getting started. I do have a several questions to start off with so please bear with me.

How many drain holes are there? and why so many?!
Companion hatch sealing? Lots of great posts about ideas on how to do this anyone got a solid solution?
Anyone using a keelguard?
Anyone parting out an ?

>M<

[Russ]

How many drain holes are there? and why so many?!

Expand on "drain holes".

Interior?

Exterior?

What is wrong with your mast that you need to replace?

[Duquette5]

exterior drain holes, seems like there are at least 5. The mast has a plate riveted around it just below the light and looks like it was an attempt to make a repair. Looks pretty sketchy to me so I'd rather replace it instead of taking a chance. I'll take a pic and post it shortly.

[OverEasy]

Hi Duquette5!

A stock Mac26X doesn’t have exterior to the hull “drain holes” per se, it does have three standard factory thru hulls though.
One for the engine well at the stern, one on the port side amidship for the galley sink and one on the starboard side amidship for the bathroom (head) sink.
There is one internal hole in the aft floor corner of the cabin sole at the mid line on many later models. ( Early models don’t seem to have that cabin floor “drain”.) This isn’t really a drain in the classic sense though, it’s really there to give visual warning that the center bilge is flooding. That was the factory design intent anyway as without it water would have to fill up anoypther 5 inches higher before leaking out the aft berth floor access panels which one might not notice is the mattress was in place or while on plane motoring.

There is a hole in the top deck of the cabin near the mast which is for the swing keel lift line (but that isn’t a drain).

A stock factory Mac26X also has a bilge fill gate on the bottom aft starboard face of the stern to allow filling and draining of the water ballast tank.

Depending on the vintage of your Mac26X there is a ballast tank vent located in earlier models in the fiberglass companionway cabin step or up forward under the center bow Vee berth hatch. Either location should have an expansion plug to seal it.

If you have more than those listed they would have been added by a previous owner (PO) and would be interesting to learn about.

There are no factory hull drain plugs on a Mac26X.

Best Regards
Over Easy

[Duquette5]

My confusion about the drain holes was mainly about the forward one near the starboard bow. Turns out it's related to the anchor locker (I think). I've been a bit sick and not able to devote anytime to the or the . On the mend and hoping to finish up creating the mold for a replacement hatch for the this week. The Admiral is back from her road trip with our oldest daughter on the 12th and the cleanout of the begins.

[Be Free]

The "X" does have a drain in the anchor locker. It's on the starboard side about a foot below the rub rail and just a little bit aft of the starboard bow cleat.

[OverEasy]

Thanks Be Free for catching that miss on my part!
Forgot all about the bow anchor line locker drain!

How could I do that?!?!
It’s one of the places on the list to refurbish as the vinyl tubing is original and nearly impossible for me to get access to to do anything but take a photo of!

[Be Free]

I almost forgot it myself. The only time I think about it is when I'm cleaning up the boat after a trip and I'm rinsing off the anchor rode.

[Duquette5]

The "X" does have a drain in the anchor locker. It's on the starboard side about a foot below the rub rail and just a little bit aft of the starboard bow cleat.

Woohoo not a fever dream! Spent a few minutes in her yesterday but the mildew is so bad it was impacting my breathing. Stayed long enough to hook up a fan and prop the forward hatch open a little. I figure if I get some air flowing through her it should help with the mildew. The Admiral has forbidden (forbade?) me from doing any work on the until the is ready to go to the slip.

[OverEasy]

Hi Douquette5!

I’ve found that a pie pan with some diluted Clorox in it left in with the cabin closed up for a day or two generally knocks down the mildew in the air.

Just be sure to open up and air out the cabin before going in.

I’ve also used a can of Lysol aerosol spray (with all the electrics turned off and no open flames) to knock down the mildew in the air.

A good properly fitted N95 face mask which seals over the nose is also beneficial is you have to go into a potential mildew environment.
A friend uses a HEPA room filter that he let run inside his cabin for a day or three before he ‘opens-up’ each spring along with the Clorox tray.

Best Regards
Over Easy
fudt