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My transom drain is completely plugged. (There's a salve for that, isn't there? )

I tried a flexible pipe-cleaner thing to push it out but it encountered a blockage. I may have to use a drain snake (gently) to pull up the obstruction.

What is the drain comprised of? Is it fibreglass all the way down, or is it tubing? Do I risk ripping up some delicate rubber with the drain snake?

Do I risk ripping up some delicate rubber with the drain snake?

Yes, you do.

Well, not REAL delicate, but you'll want to be gentle. If you crawl over the queen bed and remove the back panel you will see what you're dealing with - a ribbed (not for your pleasure) tube that is also attached with a "T" to the sink drain.

You can back flush it with a blast from the garden hose from the transom drain back into the transom well if you thoroughly plug the sink drain first.

I made a removable-for-cleaning screen to prevent this from clogging, as have others on this forum. After you've cleared it out, you can make one for yourself by coiling a small square of window screening into a cylinder and sticking it into the hole to make a screen-type standpipe. Fastest, cheapest functional, time-saving mod you'll ever do.

Note that a puncture at a low point in the hose has the potential to completely swamp the boat, especially if the transom drain is at, or very near, or below , the water line on your boat.

No "T" fitting in the X drain, and mine is a smooth tube. There are hose clamps that might come loose, if pushed beyond their limits. If in doubt, take the cardboard bulkhead down and disassemble the drain from the inside. Me, I just use a hose from the transom side and blow the sucker out. In the future, make a filter out of some screening and keep the hole covered with it.

~Rich

I used my wire snake I used to install wiring and simply poked it in there and took a shop vac to the drain and Woosh all clear. Any stout weedeater line would work just as well as the snake because actually thats all mine is el cheapo from HF

Hummmmm, that's odd, I have a 2000 26X and the only drain I have is the ballast drain and the one for the engine catch? hummm I say!! Any words of wisdom there?

Capt. B.

bbenkert26x wrote:Hummmmm, that's odd, I have a 2000 26X and the only drain I have is the ballast drain and the one for the engine catch? hummm I say!! Any words of wisdom there?

Capt. B.

I'm pretty sure that the 'transom drain' and the 'engine catch' are describing the same thing, Capt. B. It's the hole in the back of the engine well that drains out the transom. This hole often gets clogged by leaves, debris or insect nests.

Whew, had me worried for a minute, just when you think you know something, lol Thanks!!

kmclemore wrote:

bbenkert26x wrote:Hummmmm, that's odd, I have a 2000 26X and the only drain I have is the ballast drain and the one for the engine catch? hummm I say!! Any words of wisdom there?

Capt. B.

I'm pretty sure that the 'transom drain' and the 'engine catch' are describing the same thing, Capt. B. It's the hole in the back of the engine well that drains out the transom. This hole often gets clogged by leaves, debris or insect nests.

Occasionally I get Puffins nesting in mine...I remove them with a Harpoon...

It's probably wise to remove that panel and at the very least inspect that hose. Being an X, it's an old hose at best, unless it was changed in the past, and if it cracks you'll get water in the boat. I blast mine clear with a garden hose, from both directions, whenever I'm cleaning the boat (and think of it), as it clogs easily. But if the hose is crispy, blasting or snaking it may break it. Not a big deal, but if unattended and leaking, rain water will slowly fill the boat and make it a moldy smelly mess.

I backblast ist with a water hose like many others do. Seems to be the best course of action to clear it. But, if there has been debris sitting in it for a while it can solidify quite well. I need to redo mine because the hose has a little twist in it causeing a bottleneck. It also dips below the exit hole and comes back up creating a low point in the hose for everythign to collect into. I'll have to cut the old one off because it has a ton of sealant holding it on.

Mine has a white hose , so it drains faster.

Carioca wrote:Mine has a white hose , so it drains faster.

Carioca wrote:Mine has a white hose , so it drains faster.

Only 50 posts, and he/she has the pulse of this place pretty good.

Had this problem 2 years in a row on my '02 X despite backflushing, screens ect.
Used a med Phillips screw driver, removed the access panel and found the problem. It was clogged with sealant
No wonder nothing worked!!! Lol
Its clear running now, but a new hose and clamps are on the "gitter done" list.
Rich

Just put a teaspoon of Drano down the well drain, then add a cup of water. Give it 5-10 minutes and flush.



No, no, no...don't do that. Just joking.

As mentioned above, blasting with a hose from the transom and then back inside the well drain.
Stupid design IMO. On my M, it joins with the galley sink drain in an T fitting. Stuff drops down there and clogs it all the time. I've been temped to increase the size of the drain, but I think I will put some kind of screen device over it instead. Easier and less work.