Effluents Above the Waterline

[Hudson Force]

I've had several issues over the years with through-hulls above the waterline. Once, years ago, I found that my bilge pump was running frequently in a rolly anchorage. I did not have a vented loop on my above the waterline through-hull and my vessel was sipping water in with each roll. The vented loop became an easy fix. I also find that I'm disturbed by the drip stain and increased algae that can form around these effluents.



My solution was to place a piece of tygon tubing tightly shoved into the outflow tube. I was aware that this decreases the aperature diameter, but I determined that this had no negative effect with the cooling water flow that I required.



This has worked well for me keeping my waterline clean, but recently, here in the St. Johns River of North Florida, I've found them missing on both my port and starboard sides. It turned out to be a case of theft! These guys were seen pulling them off!

[Scot McPherson]

Yeah manatees love to drink
Freshwater.....I remember as a kid letting them drink off the dock hose for almost an hour straight. They'd grab the hose and just drink drink drink.

I bet your effluent just had a different enough taste that attracted them.

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by Scot McPherson

Yeah manatees love to drink
Freshwater.....I remember as a kid letting them drink off the dock hose for almost an hour straight. They'd grab the hose and just drink drink drink.

I bet your effluent just had a different enough taste that attracted them.

I'm sure they were attracted to the flow splashing onto the surface; however the water is cooling only and with the same salinity as when entering,- just a little warmer, but the river is at 84*F now (29*C). I replaced my tubes this morning,- 'see what happens.

[denverd0n]

I'd bet that if you cut those tubes off, so that only 1/2" or so was sticking out of the hull, they wouldn't be able to pull them off so easily.

[Scot McPherson]

Originally Posted by Hudson Force

I'm sure they were attracted to the flow splashing onto the surface; however the water is cooling only and with the same salinity as when entering,- just a little warmer, but the river is at 84*F now (29*C). I replaced my tubes this morning,- 'see what happens.

Yeah, I am just thinking that after it went through your systems that it took on a taste.

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by denverd0n

I'd bet that if you cut those tubes off, so that only 1/2" or so was sticking out of the hull, they wouldn't be able to pull them off so easily.

Scot might be right about "taking on a taste". Regardless, if they pull them off again I'll try your plan to make them shorter.

[zboss]

Ha... that is awesome. We sometimes see them in the STA city marina having an orgy or sorts near the fresh water street runoff.