Tomcat self bailing issues

E

Edward J

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Sep 26, 2020
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C Dory Year
2008
C Dory Model
255 Tomcat
Hull Identification Number
cdo25514b808
Vessel Name
Sandbagger
Hello all, i'm a new c-brat and new owner of a 2008 tomcat. I've been looking at tomcat's for few years and the tomcat fits my needs very well: camping and fishing and able to trailer. After shrimping yesterday in Hood Canal i was washing down the cockpit and i was surprised how long it took for water to drain. So my question is I have five batteries in the aft compartment, three house and two starter batteries, if i move the house batteries inside the pilot house will it improve the self bailing and is there a down side to having batteries in the pilot house. Thank you all very much for any advice.
Ed Jonson
 
Edward J":80erfngt said:
... and is there a down side to having batteries in the pilot house. ...
Click to expand...

Shouldn't have FLA batteries in the house due to hydrogen venting.
 
If you have AGM or Li batteries, they can be placed in the pilot house. I had 4 AGM batteries in the pilot house on the Tom Cat 255. (That was in 2007) Today I would go with LI batteries for house bank. (but see precautions in other Li battery threads.

Was the issue that the scuppers were close to being under water? You want the cockpit water to drain aft. Also the "fish boxes" in the floor will fill with water from a wash down. I am not aware of anyone who has the seals to prevent leaking.

Although the 255 is a "big boat" for 25 feet--it is weight sensitive.
 
Journey On is a 25' CD. The cockpit drainage through the overboard drains is miserable, because the level of the cockpit floor is only inches above the waterline, hence no hydraulic head. In fact it we have over 2 people in the cockpit, the overboard drains are plugged so that water doesn't back drain. When we're in the water and I wash the cockpit, I ask Judy to set up front so that the drains drain.Sounds like the Tomcat has the same problems.

Also there are 2 hatches in the floor of the 25 CD. Water flowed freely through and around the seals giving a wet bilge. Dr. Bob found some hatches that would replace those and not leak. Installed 2 of them and now have a dry bilge. You could find hatches of the correct size and install them to keep the water out. Beats moving the batteries.

Boris
 
Boris,

I am confused by your statement that: "I ask Judy to set up front so that the drains drain." Did you mean that you have her sit far in the stern?

My CD25 2 cockpit drains out the far aft corners of the cockpit. If I have weight forward, true there more head height, but the water in the cockpit never gets to the drains because it just pools forward at the cabin bulkhead.

BTW, my solution while not moving, but on the water, is to stand as far back in the splashwell as I can on one side then the other. If moving (the best situation), I put the boat not quite on plane which tilts the stern strongly down allowing the water to drain easily.

On the trailer, obviously I just park on a modest hill.
 
Actually, when the boat is in the water and I'm washing out the cockpit, the weight balance is such that the scuppers are at or slightly under water. I can't plug them, since I need the water to drain, so Judy moves forward whilst I get the cockpit clean and somewhat drained and then comes back to help finish the cockpit drain.

And if you think that's convoluted, you should follow my thought whilst I'm washing the boat.

Boris
 
I see. Maybe my stern rides a little higher too. The bottom of the scuppers are maybe 1/2" above the water surface.
 
I had the same problem, take a look at my album. It fixed my scupper problem
 
Thank you all for info. Knotty Lady the work you have done looks impressive. Thanks for pics.
 
Hi Ed,

The aft scuppers are barely above the waterline as mentioned. Each has a fairly stiff one-way rubber flapper valve to prevent waves or wakes from injecting seawater into the cockpit. The downside of this design is that cockpit washdown water can only ‘dribble’ out the flapper while it’s only an inch or so higher than sea level.

20140629_35.jpg

The most significant factor on scupper height above the waterline on our boat is the gas load. Twin full 75g tanks carry 900 pounds of gas. A full freshwater tank adds another 230 pounds. Group 31 batteries may avg 70 pounds each. Consider those factors if you haven’t already before moving battery positions, which may produce wiring challenges and detract from inside storage.

Hope this is helpful,

John
 
I need to replace the rubber part of the scuppers that John mention on this last post. Anyone know where I could find those.
 
ChapaRRal Cock":28iovs13 said:
I had the same problem, take a look at my album. It fixed my scupper problem
Click to expand...

Are those pics still in your album? I couldn't seem to find them. I'd love to solve the scupper problem.
 
C-Wolfe":13numxx9 said:
I need to replace the rubber part of the scuppers that John mention on this last post. Anyone know where I could find those.
Click to expand...

I’m having the same issues with my 2021 TC 255 that we recently purchased did you ever find these parts?
Thanks!
 
I finally solved the problem with this 3D printed part I made.

TomCat_drain_flapper.sized.jpg
 
Wow, how do I get at that flapper! I am not seeing it on my boat. Is it in the back end of the deck outlet before the short hose?
My boat seems like there is no flapper at all
Did you remove anything or just add in that one you made?
 
Hi John,

Yours are probably just missing but at the back of the boat just right above the water line are the 2 deck drains, one port, one starboard. There should be a very stiff plastic disc in there that is screwed to the deck drain assembly. Most likely, there is what's left of a small stainless fastener and no stiff plastic disk. Probably fell off. So I removed the tiny stainless fastener, drilled and tapped for 6/32, maybe 8/32 I can't remember, and installed this cool plastic disk I 3D printed. Works great.
 
I should mention, if anyone has any interest in making these flappers for your boat or you want to become a self made millionaire and print and sell these, PM me your email and I'll send you the file for free (if you're a C-Brat with more than a day of association).
 
Captain Starbucks":546ftwyx said:
I finally solved the problem with this 3D printed part I made.

TomCat_drain_flapper.sized.jpg
Click to expand...

I finally had a chance to run my boat offshore last weekend in the open ocean and I can say with complete confidence this part works. No, it can't fix the poorly engineered design of only a 2" delta between the deck and drain port, but the flapper I've designed and made keeps water out, and easily drains the deck.
 
Sell these on line or to the factory, so they will be factory issue on all of the boats with scuppers.
 
My scuppers still back flood the back deck. We bought pool pipe plugs.🥴
I see no evidence where any flapper was ever previously installed in my boat.
Very curious if I have the same hardware as others.
I’ve posted some detailed photos to my photo album. Unfortunately, I’m using an iPhone and it is not as easy to view the source as it used to be on a laptop to attach an image to this post.
If you have a moment to check my album and tell me where this flap would go, that would be pretty awesome.
Thanks,
John
 
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