OK, here's a question to generate discussion... how many thru-hulls does your boat have below the waterline?
My project currently has 8, as follows:
Head intake, stbd fwd
Head discharge, stbd fwd
Speed log, port fwd
Depth sounder transducer, stbd midships
Sink drain, port midships
Engine water intake, port midships
Cockpit drains port & stbd aft
... plus the engine exhaust and bilge pump discharge within 6" of the waterline...
This is alot of holes in a small boat (I had fewer in my last boat, a 37' trimaran!) I'd like to get rid of a few if possible - here's a few ideas I'm kicking around:
- Replace the depth sounder transducer with an inside the hull hockey-puck style transducer. (The current unit is shot and needs to be replaced anyways).
- Chuck the speed log (also currently shot). I don't race so don't need 0.01 kt precision. While GPS only gives speed over ground (as opposed to speed thru the water) and so can't replace a log, I find that once I get to know a boat I can usually estimate speed thru the water pretty accurately.
- Tee the head intake off the engine raw water intake. My concern here is drawing air into the engine water pump at high RPMs. Is this a valid concern? Would a check valve in the head intake line after the Tee solve the problem?
- I have also thought about switching to a porta-potti, as the current marine head isn't set up with a holding tank anyhow, but have mixed feelings on this one (a whole separate topic which I won't get into now...)
Anyhow, I'm curious to hear other's thoughts and solutions! Thanks!