Further Hull / Ballast Leak

[Frank C]

Would someone please explain this "rubber backed plate"... I am not aware of one...

The early 26X had dual ballast fill valves, a small gate valve at the port transom plus the center valve that pclark describes w/ a rubber backed plate" - the ballast tank air vent is under the step as part of the same assembly.

Sometime in mid-year 1998 (model year) the transom gate valve was enlarged and moved to starboard, the center valve behind the CB trunk was discontinued, and the ballast vent was moved under the v-berth. The forward vent was better suited to fully exhausting any air bubble from the ballast tank. Later in '98 or '99 Roger was able to revise the interior liner and eliminate the step for the center ballast valve.

I believe some owners of the early model use both valves for filling or emptying the tank since the transom gate valve was only 1.5" versus 3" after 1998.

[Max]

Absolutely right. I use BOTH valves for filling and draining ballast.

[pclark]

Sure wish the guy I bought my X from had told me about the other valve I've been using only the small gate valve. I gotta' get the appropriate manual for my boat for sure.

[kmclemore]

Sometime in mid-year 1998 (model year) the transom gate valve was enlarged and moved to starboard, the center valve behind the CB trunk was discontinued, and the ballast vent was moved under the v-berth. The forward vent was better suited to fully exhausting any air bubble from the ballast tank. Later in '98 or '99 Roger was able to revise the interior liner and eliminate the step for the center ballast valve.

I think ours must be some sort of transition boat, because we have the larger starboard gate valve and we don't seem to have the valve at the back of the CB trunk, but we *do* have the companionway step with the vent plug underneath.

Anybody got a pic of that CB trunk valve, BTW?

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

My '96 has the dual valves.

Opening the center valve can speed up the fill time, but in general I don't use it. It doesn't take long to fill the tank with just the smaller portside transom valve alone.

You could also use both if you are emptying on the trailer, but I never do that either. I always empty under power before I return to the dock. You only want to use the transom valve for this as the center valve will just let more water in.

There are certainly some transition boats out there. I've seen one that had the indent in the hull behind the centerboard trunk, but did not have the holes cut for the actual fill. The switch to the larger starboard valve and the removal of the center valve was the first set of changes.

The move of the vent forward followed separately to improve the burping of the tank. The stair vent is not the highest point in the tank if your boat has any kind of a stern low attitude. This would leave a bubble in the bow portion of the tank. When you would shift weight forward, say to sleep in the vee berth you'd get somewhat anoying burping sounds from the tank. Boats balanced just so would be right on the edge and the slightest change in attitude from waves would have this burping going on all night.

This is also when they added the drip ring around the vent. The vent's at the step do not have this feature. You have to watch them closer for overflow. My boat is heavily loaded and will flood water out the vent if left un-attended. As soon as I hear the final burps of the tank filling I quickly put the plug in the vent to avoid any water overflow.

[pclark]

I took some closeups of the drain Tuesday. I'll try to post them when I get home tonight.

Paul

[Captain Steve]

I have a 98 and the vent plug is forward. I do have the detachable step with a blank top underneath it.

[pclark]

I've got the photos down to a reasonable file size. How do I post them??

Paul

[Sassy Too]

Maybe this will help......http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewt ... 37173616e7...Don {thanks Moe}

[pclark]

Okay, hope this works (thanks Sassy Too)

[Frank C]

I think ours must be some sort of transition boat, because we have the
larger starboard gate valve and we don't seem to have the valve at the
back of the CB trunk, but we *do* have the companionway step with the
vent plug underneath.

Anybody got a pic of that CB trunk valve, BTW?

Kevin, your transition boat must have come after they enlarged the valve & moved the vent,
but before they molded the new interior liner that enabled the companionway stairs.

My '96 has the dual valves.

Opening the center valve can speed up the fill time, but in general I don't
use it. It doesn't take long to fill the tank with just the smaller portside
transom valve alone....

There are certainly some transition boats out there. I've seen one that
had the indent in the hull behind the centerboard trunk, but did not have
the holes cut for the actual fill. The switch to the larger starboard
valve and the removal of the center valve was the first set of changes.

I saw an interesting "transition boat" at the marina today. It had a starboard gate valve,
but it was still the smaller valve - (I think 1.5" ?).

OFF TOPIC:
This particular boat also had a hull ID that I don't understand,
one that was so unique that I memorized it ...
MACX.0967.J9.67

I believe that's an impossible hull no !!! All I can figure is that
the factory tagger transposed two numbers. The hull tag should have
been stamped J6.97

[Max]

Duane,
if it overflows from the air vent, where can the water get to?
If it's the bilge area - ie under the ice chest where I have my leak, then that might just be a possible answer.

[kmclemore]

I think ours must be some sort of transition boat, because we have the
larger starboard gate valve and we don't seem to have the valve at the
back of the CB trunk, but we *do* have the companionway step with the
vent plug underneath.

Anybody got a pic of that CB trunk valve, BTW?

Kevin, your transition boat must have come after they enlarged the valve & moved the vent,
but before they molded the new interior liner that enabled the companionway stairs.

Hmm.. I suppose.

However, mine *does* have the vent in the companionway step, and there's no raised
area near the v-berth for a vent in the front. Very odd. I'm half-glad I don't have
the valve up front though, since I have my two batteries and my water containers both mounted
directly against the v-berth bulkhead, so I think that might not be possible if there were a vent there.
(having never actually *seen* a front-vented boat, I'm speaking from ignorance on that - but for those who
know me, that's nothing new! ).