[boarder1010]

I have a 182 Barchetta with the opening seat compartments in the back. There is a white plastic grommet type fitting in a hole at each end which theoretically should be water drains. However they are just pushed into the carpet and don't go anywhere? I don't like the idea of drill a new hold there as I don't know what is beneath? What are my options?

[Paul F]

Since I store mine in a garage, I flip the seats up and let the carpet dry out when I put it away.

[mikeyt]

Mine has a rubber grommet in the hole & yes it drains onto the carpet then into the bilge. I wuz thinking though that i could pick up a thru hull drain thingy of some sort, remove the grommet & install the drain then attach a short piece of tubing so any water would go directly into the bilge.

[boarder1010]

Is it ok to jus drill through where the plastic/rubber grommet is? Mikeyt when you say yours drains into the carpet then into the bilge, what do you mean. How is it getting to the bilge without a drain?

[mikeyt]

Mine has the 2 small 'jump' seats in the back next to the engine. Where the drain is located it simply drains onto the carpet next to the bilge area & slowly flows to the bilge given the slight tilt in the floor in that area.

That whole area on mine tilts forward so that you can access the floor area beneath anyway so it's an easy job to change the grommet for a drain of some sort that you could attach a plastic tube to.

[boarder1010]

Ok. Does anyone have the 3 flip up style seats accross the back that can tell me what the best course of action is? It is all one compartment under the seats but there has to be a way to get the water out as it comes in?

[MariahPD]

The plastic drains you are talking about are called plastic thru hull drains. The water will drain from the bench base then onto the carpet and the into the keel where it will drain into the bilge. Then it is up to you if you keep the brass plug out of the transom or use the bilge pump to remove the water from the bilge. Mariah used this set up for almost all of the super sport models and it was flawless.

[boarder1010]

Originally Posted by MariahPD

The plastic drains you are talking about are called plastic thru hull drains. The water will drain from the bench base then onto the carpet and the into the keel where it will drain into the bilge. Then it is up to you if you keep the brass plug out of the transom or use the bilge pump to remove the water from the bilge. Mariah used this set up for almost all of the super sport models and it was flawless.

I don't fully understand. The water just soaks into the carpet inside the plastic drains and then seeps through to the bilge area? I always remove my plug to remove the water. The main reason I am asking this question is that I recently removed my boat from storage and did a very extensive wash including a light pressure wash of the carpet. When I washed under the seats the water just pooled at the end the boat was tilted to and it seemed to take forever for it to go away. In the end I was assuming the water had finally just soaked into the carpet and now needed to evaporate or dry.

[MariahPD]

The water will drain to the bilge trust me, you will need to have the trailer sitting tounge high for all of the water to run to the bilge. Always remember that nothing beats sunlight and fresh air to prolong a boats life by keeping everything dry.

[Paul F]

When I know the carpet is wet under the bench seat, I use a small block of wood to prop the seat forward just enough to let air get to it until it dries out.