Stringer drain hole clogged

[MM33]

Hi Guys, The rubber tube running through my starboard stringer is clogged. I noticed this because water fills up and eventually only drains over the stringer. I tried using a snake and broke it. i got a tube that was slightly smaller that the rubber hose, ran it into the drain hose then tried a 6 hp shop vac to vaccum it out with no success. I also tried blowing it out using the same shop vac with no success. I am out of idea's so I figured I would see if anyone has any other ideas. thanks.

[seabob4]

Do you have the room to get a stout solid rod or even a long drill bit and pound on it with a hammer to dislodge whatever has wedged itself in there? I know this may sound like a "crude" solution, but if the weep hole drained before, something has gotten in there pretty tight, and a pretty good fit as well.

[MM33]

I used a dowell and tried pushing it through with no luck, but I guess I could try hammering something through. I tried the opposite side for practice and the snake and dowell go through without issue. Its an easier side because there are no wires, hydraulic steering lines, etc, in the way. Its tight and those weep holes are angled back towards the transome, so its tought to get room, but i will try. Has anyone ever had one clog up before? I cant believe how clogged it is, its really starting to piss me off.

[JohnB]

Do you know if it ever drained right?
There might be some "risidual" glass that is blocking it since it was constructed. I have seen that before.

[datngrizz]

A couple of thoughts -
1) Home depot sells electricians fish rods for fishing electrical wires. They are sturdy fiberglass with metal ends.
2)An electrical 1/4 plumbing snake. They have t hem at Home Depot that you chuck into a drill.

Both should fit the drain hole.

Good Luck!

[MM33]

Actually I am not sure it ever did drain. I used to have a round hatch cover that sealed it up, but when my rocket scientist mechanic (I no longer use him) changed out my hydraulic steering lines he ran them through the hatch cover instead of running them through the proper holes. I think the problem started after that so maybe it never drained. Why would they put the rubber hose there then? The other side has the same thing and it drains with no problem. Is it because they figured it would drain through the stringer cutout since they left room for cables and wires on that side? If so that’s pretty dumb. Thanks for the response.

[seabob4]

MM,
You ask some logical questions that unfortunately don't fit in a logical industry. I have seen weep holes that were glassed over, I have seen weep holes that were filled with foam, and they were in freshly laid-up hulls right out of lamination! Brand new boats! So if it never drained, well, that wouldn't surprise me.I've been building new boats for Wellcraft, Stamas, Hydra-sports, and Pro-Line for going on 15 years now. The buyer would be amazed if they new what the "truth" was.

If your weep hole, when tapped with something solid feels like a hard, but almost metallic sound, then it is probably glass. If it sort of has a dull thud sound to it, it is probably foam. Glass, you'll have to drill through, foam, you can pound out. And if you think it's glass, try and drill as low as possible, without going through the hull!

Hope this helps.

[MM33]

Thanks sea bob, it doesnt sound metallic, so I dont think its glass. I think i am making a little headway, so I will try to buy one of those snakes mentioned in earlier posts and see if i can get it. The real problem is that there is no damn room. I even thought about cutting a round hatch hole in the transome well wall next to the hatch and see if that gives me a little more roon to work. Who knows.... thanks