2006 Nautique 226 LE - What's under the ski locker?

[Rusty Axle]

The drain in the ski locker has a lip that is approximately 1/4" thick. And its located at a higher point on a curved area at the end of the ski locker. So if water gets in, about an inch of water can't get out.

I plan to put a flush mount stainless steel drain in the center of the skil locker that will correct the drainage issue.

I expect to find a fiberglass floor underneath the locker compartment that once drilled will provide an opening to the bilge.

The boat is a Limited Edition with no ballast tanks. The gas tank is under the floor just in front of the motor so no concerns there.

Can anyone confirm that the only thing below the ski locker is a fiberglass floor, which once drilled will allow drainage into the bilge?

[Bizarrosuperman]

That floor should come out I believe. I have 226TE with ballast. I removed the floor and ballast tanks to get a larger bag in there. But why concerned there. That drain runs to the bilge. You shouldn’t be getting much water up there unless you’re swamping the boat or store outside uncovered.

[Rusty Axle]

The existing ski locker drain flows to the bilge, however the snap-in plug it is comprised of places the drain hole too high in the compartment, so water cannot completely drain.

The boat was stored outside for a few weeks at the marina I purchased it from, and water had sat in the ski locker long enough that clumps of algae were growing. A bit of a mess to clean.

Subsequently, it was on our new lift for a few weeks with only the boat cover, as the top for the lift hadn't yet arrived. Water in the ski locker again.

While it is now under cover, and will always be stored indoors, I may have it in my drive for a few weeks at end of season in order to correct a few flaws prior to winter storage. So the locker will likely end up with water again.

A flush-mounted drain seems like a simple fix. My only concern is whether there is anything underneath the floor of the locker where the hole would be cut. My guess is nothing is there, but it would be reassuring to have that confirmed.

[Bizarrosuperman]

I guess the LE is different from my TE. Neither of my rear lockers have drains. Just the water channel around the top of the compartments. I just pulled my ballast bag to look. My floor is solid and no way to drain to the engine compartment except off the sides. My floor is solid and not open to the engine compartment

[Rusty Axle]

Sorry, I didn't communicate well at all. The ski locker to me is the narrow rectangular compartment in the middle of the boat floor between the seats. Long and narrow to store skis. That's the compartment that I'm referring to. Not the ones at the rear. Thank you for going to the trouble that you did, and sorry for causing you to do it.

[Bizarrosuperman]

No worries, I had to readjust the lead I have in there anyway. Going out in the morning. The middle locker is the bottom of the boat for me. You can actually see the long screws that hold the tracking fins on. But I have a bilge pump there too. Right in front of the gas tank. Every year i put my drain plug in. Pour in a bottle of bilge cleaner and run the hose for awhile. I don’t fill to far. But enough to let it sit there overnight and work well. Then turn the bilges on and clean all the lines and bilge floor. Squeaky clean all season