Cockpit Floor Measurements

[rdeputy]

How much angle is considered adequate for proper cockpit drainage? 2, 3 or 4-degrees of elevation?

How much higher should the cockpit floor from the waterline? My current drawing allows for 3-inches at the transom.

That's it for now...

[Deering]

Depends on how variable your trim is. If you might be bow-down at times then increase the angle. I've had that problem and eventually had to add scuppers on the forward edge of my cockpit to eliminate puddling.

[rdeputy]

I always assumed that one would design his/her floor angle based on the assumption that the boat was floating in a static position. The trim angle at running speeds should only make the floor angle increase as speed/lift increases. Did I miss something? Naturally, if your weight/balance is messed up this could cause the boat to do weird things.

Originally Posted by Deering

Depends on how variable your trim is. If you might be bow-down at times then increase the angle. I've had that problem and eventually had to add scuppers on the forward edge of my cockpit to eliminate puddling.

[Deering]

You're correct. You want it to drain when at rest, and when you're runnng it won't be a problem. But static trim can change due to loading changes - full fuel tanks might change things based on location of tanks, add a bigger anchor or more chain forward, mount a dinghy on the roof, install a larger battery forward, drag more stuff aboard your boat... things have a way of "happening".

[Robjl]

Heeled trim is your problem, also does the cockpit floor widen or narrow toward the drains? Work that out and you'll know where to position the drains. I've used 1.5 degrees on a 44' cruising yacht and it worked fine.

[rdeputy]

Thanks for the response. The cockpit floor will follow the shape of the beam, wide at the front and narrowing to the transom slightly. We've always positioned the drains in the rear deck in the corners.

Originally Posted by Robjl

Heeled trim is your problem, also does the cockpit floor widen or narrow toward the drains? Work that out and you'll know where to position the drains. I've used 1.5 degrees on a 44' cruising yacht and it worked fine.