I've got a question about water drainage through the keel. It's a bit complicated, but I'll try to explain. Should there be communication between the bilge and the drain plug at the bottom of the keel? That is, should rainwater or snowmelt entering the bilge during the winter drain out the open keel drainplug? A couple years ago, I cut open the bilge floor to remove some waterlogged foam and then rebuilt that floor but installed a hatch that allows me to stick a handpump down to the lower part of the keel and pump out any water that gets in there. That hatch remains open in the winter. So there's defeinitely a pathway from the slanted bilge floor to somewhere near the bottom of the keel, which is a flat fiberglass surface. Should that area drain out the drainplug?

Here's more background:

At the beginning of the 2023 season, when we were ready to launch our boat, I could not find the keel drain plug. I also couldn't find a replacement that fit, so I filled the hole with epoxy with the intention to thread a hole through the epoxy in the fall and begin using a screw as a drain plug. In the past, when I removed the drain plug in the fall, there would be a high pressure, horizontal stream of water coming out of the keel for 30 seconds or so. In the fall of 2023, when I drilled a hole in the epoxy, there was only a trickle of water coming out. I was concerned that I'd pushed enough epoxy into the drain hole to seal off whatever areas used to drain water. So I drilled a couple other test holes near the drain hole, but no significant water came out of those. So this indicates to me that either 1) water used to leak in through the drain plug (even though I used to cover the threads with sealant) and the epoxy-sealed hole did not let in any water or 2) water would enter the keel from the bilge and the new holes I drilled did not penetrate the cavities where water used to collect. This spring, when I took the cover off our boat, I found that the bilge was filled with water up to the floorboards. I'd never had a problem with water in the spring before. So this indicates to me that either 1) water used to enter the bilge and then flow out the drainhole during the winter or 2) somehow enough water entered through pinholes in my aging winter tarp or was blown in through the bow or stern openings to fill the bilge up to the floorboards.

So I'm trying to decide if I should drill more holes until I can get water to drain from the bilge out of the keel or if I should just get a better tarp.

Steve Heinzelman

Elmo #612

Canandaigua Yacht Club

Hi Jonathan, My name is Ed I own Ensign 538 at Fleet 72 in Saratoga Lake Sailing Club in Saratoga Springs, NY. Ensign 538 does not have a drain plug, at all. I want to install one in to avoid the possibility of water freezing in the void in the keel.

The previous owner said he had no problems. I have covered 538 in the winter with multiple covers to make sure no water gets in the boar and so far no issues. But, I know two other ensigns that had cracked hulls as a result of water in the keel void freezing. I feel it is time to install a drain plug in Ensign 538 and not torely solely on the tarp covers.

I read your response and I plan to follow your advise. I will admit I'm frightened to drill a hole in my boat. I don't know exactly where to do it or what size. I'm an engineer and I guess I need more detail. How do I know if I have it right?

Could you please provide me with more detail about hole size and where it is to be located. Also any other detail on drilling and installing the brass plug. Did you have any problems doing it?

Thank You

Hi Ed, funny you should ask!

I have just put a drain hole in the boat we are working on as part of our fleet building program at Canandaigua.

I will collect some photos and prepare some notes on what we found and did.

I will post it here.

Jonathan Gorbold

Questar 1226

There is a club here in Minneapolis that drills 3, 1/4" holes along the keel at the end of every season and will then fill with epoxy every spring. They also have a drainage plug low in the bilge that they leave open in the winter (simple hardware store purchase).

I have yet to do something similar, but maybe I will just in case. idk, I also just cross my fingers every year.

attached is a pick.

Hello Ed, I apologize for taking so long to get back to you with an answer to your drain hole question.

When I started to prepare an answer for you, I found there is more to it and the position of a single drain hole that I have on Questar may not be easy to fit on every Ensign.

Attached you will find a write up with recommendations on the position for two drain holes, with an alternative single drain hole that I have used for many years on Questar and is now on the new fleet boat.

Let me know if you have any questions or call me at 585-261-9633.

Jonathan, Thank you very much. It is exactly what I hoped for. You are my hero. And extra thanks for spending all the time and focus to complete the instruction. And with locating dimensions!!

I have been a very successful engineer for my 50 year career. My policy is not to invent. That is for others. My job was to understand, follow and apply specifications, procedures and designs correctly and efficiently. I only innovated if there was a reason or I could not find an existing proven method.

I don't like the idea of drilling holes every year then patching them up. It is like a wood pecker working on the hull. After a while you may have a weak hull.