Cockpit Drain Screen?
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Willburrrr2003
- Deckhand
- Posts: 36
- Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2025 10:15 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 22
- Location: Camano Island WA
Cockpit Drain Screen?
My Cockpit Drain has no screen in the drain hole just before the companion way hatch. It has plugged and isn't draining. Working on using hand pump to drain the water and my arms are tired lol... So 2 questions. 1) How would you fine folks suggest clearing the clog , which is small leaves and debris. 2) any suggestions on a screen in the cockpit drain opening to keep it from clogging again?
Regards,
Will Riddle
Regards,
Will Riddle
- Be Free
- Admiral
- Posts: 1889
- Joined: Fri Nov 23, 2012 6:08 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Steinhatchee, FL
Re: Cockpit Drain Screen?
A picture would help, but for now I'll assume the drain is similar to an X.
I clear mine by putting a garden hose on the outside and pushing the debris back into the motor well. You don't need much pressure.
Someone, (OverEasy?) posted a screen to keep debris out not too long ago. It might work on an M22.
I clear mine by putting a garden hose on the outside and pushing the debris back into the motor well. You don't need much pressure.
Someone, (OverEasy?) posted a screen to keep debris out not too long ago. It might work on an M22.
Bill
2001 26X Simple Interest
Honda BF40D
"If I were in a hurry I would not have bought a sailboat." Me
2001 26X Simple Interest
Honda BF40D
"If I were in a hurry I would not have bought a sailboat." Me
- Russ
- Admiral
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- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Bozeman, Montana "Luna Azul" 2008 M 70hp Suzi
Re: Cockpit Drain Screen?
As mentioned, I blast it with the garden hose. Best from the bottom, but I've done it from the top as well.
Many captains have used one of these metal screens and inverted it over the drain. That works for the motor well drain, but I'm not sure it would work for your.
I just found this and I think I'm going to order one and try it.
https://www.amazon.com/Catcher-Silicone ... KVLLL?th=1
Here's a link to the metal cup shaped one
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZ7H1VK6/re ... OUivk&th=1
Many captains have used one of these metal screens and inverted it over the drain. That works for the motor well drain, but I'm not sure it would work for your.
I just found this and I think I'm going to order one and try it.
https://www.amazon.com/Catcher-Silicone ... KVLLL?th=1
Here's a link to the metal cup shaped one
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZ7H1VK6/re ... OUivk&th=1
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--Russ
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Willburrrr2003
- Deckhand
- Posts: 36
- Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2025 10:15 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 22
- Location: Camano Island WA
Re: Cockpit Drain Screen?
Had to get pic of drain, Here is where my cockpit drain is, it goes straight down and through hull at the back end of the keel trunk. I ordered a 1" stainless drain cover with slots in it from Amazon to see if it will help...
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- Be Free
- Admiral
- Posts: 1889
- Joined: Fri Nov 23, 2012 6:08 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Steinhatchee, FL
Re: Cockpit Drain Screen?
Pushing the blockage back up into the cockpit will work better than trying to push it further into the drain. The drains on the X are a lot shorter but they appear to work the same way.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Bill
2001 26X Simple Interest
Honda BF40D
"If I were in a hurry I would not have bought a sailboat." Me
2001 26X Simple Interest
Honda BF40D
"If I were in a hurry I would not have bought a sailboat." Me
- Russ
- Admiral
- Posts: 8299
- Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:01 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Bozeman, Montana "Luna Azul" 2008 M 70hp Suzi
Re: Cockpit Drain Screen?
This looks like it should work well. Roger should have put something over that drain. Most boats I've seen have screens over the scuppers.

--Russ
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Willburrrr2003
- Deckhand
- Posts: 36
- Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2025 10:15 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 22
- Location: Camano Island WA
Re: Cockpit Drain Screen?
Thanks Bill, I will give that a try, the trick is getting to the drain on the bottom while sitting on the trailer
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Willburrrr2003
- Deckhand
- Posts: 36
- Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2025 10:15 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 22
- Location: Camano Island WA
Re: Cockpit Drain Screen?
Thanks Russ, this part should show up today and excited to try it out. I have been stalled on getting her ready to sail, and this is the first step forward
- Russ
- Admiral
- Posts: 8299
- Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:01 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Bozeman, Montana "Luna Azul" 2008 M 70hp Suzi
Re: Cockpit Drain Screen?
This is my go to for most marine uses. You can probably get this at a hardware store.
https://www.amazon.com/3M-Marine-Adhesi ... AY6B0?th=1

https://www.amazon.com/3M-Marine-Adhesi ... AY6B0?th=1

--Russ
- dlandersson
- Admiral
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- Location: Michigan City
Re: Cockpit Drain Screen?
I use a drain cleaner thingy from Amazon ($3 - long thin plastic)
Be Free wrote: ↑Thu Oct 16, 2025 9:18 am A picture would help, but for now I'll assume the drain is similar to an X.
I clear mine by putting a garden hose on the outside and pushing the debris back into the motor well. You don't need much pressure.
Someone, (OverEasy?) posted a screen to keep debris out not too long ago. It might work on an M22.
- Be Free
- Admiral
- Posts: 1889
- Joined: Fri Nov 23, 2012 6:08 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Steinhatchee, FL
Re: Cockpit Drain Screen?
I did not know the 22 drain was on the bottom!Willburrrr2003 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 17, 2025 10:20 amThanks Bill, I will give that a try, the trick is getting to the drain on the bottom while sitting on the trailer![]()
I figure that any day where I don't learn something new is wasted so thank you for making my day.
Bill
2001 26X Simple Interest
Honda BF40D
"If I were in a hurry I would not have bought a sailboat." Me
2001 26X Simple Interest
Honda BF40D
"If I were in a hurry I would not have bought a sailboat." Me
- Dougiestyle
- Engineer
- Posts: 163
- Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2017 7:18 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Rockport TX
Re: Cockpit Drain Screen?
I owned mac 22 and i believe it drained into the trunk, via a short hose. Mine also had no screen but worked fine.
Dougiestyle
1998 26X , Nissan 50D, "Water Buffalo"
1998 26X , Nissan 50D, "Water Buffalo"
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PrairieMoon
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2021 9:41 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26S
- Location: Omaha Nebraska
Re: Cockpit Drain Screen?
Lots of springtime tree jizz falls on my uncovered boat, so I added the screen-type drain to my 26S. The drain hole is too close to the edge, so the screen didn't cover well. And it's fragile, so I was constantly reshaping it. In the end it worked waaay too well, clogging much faster than the original drain would have, and after just one storm I found my cockpit nearly filled. I got rid of it.
If you need a filter, I'd recommend a cone-shaped one (cone up) so as the bottom gets clogged, water can still reach the drain. If the bowl faces down, it'll clog in a day.
If you need a filter, I'd recommend a cone-shaped one (cone up) so as the bottom gets clogged, water can still reach the drain. If the bowl faces down, it'll clog in a day.
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Willburrrr2003
- Deckhand
- Posts: 36
- Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2025 10:15 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 22
- Location: Camano Island WA
Re: Cockpit Drain Screen?
Thanks PrairieMoon, will keep this in mind. I haven't had the chance yet to fit the one I bought, but have an automatic sump pump in the back of the cockpit for the moment.PrairieMoon wrote: ↑Mon Nov 24, 2025 8:17 am Lots of springtime tree jizz falls on my uncovered boat, so I added the screen-type drain to my 26S. The drain hole is too close to the edge, so the screen didn't cover well. And it's fragile, so I was constantly reshaping it. In the end it worked waaay too well, clogging much faster than the original drain would have, and after just one storm I found my cockpit nearly filled. I got rid of it.
If you need a filter, I'd recommend a cone-shaped one (cone up) so as the bottom gets clogged, water can still reach the drain. If the bowl faces down, it'll clog in a day.
Regards,
Will
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OverEasy
- Admiral
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Re: Cockpit Drain Screen?
Ditto to what Prairemoon said.
A flat screen can clog/block with just one good sized leaf …. Try and see if you can ge something that has a raised center screen which will, at least when on the trailer, allow the drain to still function.
I can understand that one might not want a raised center screen while out sailing (as it could get underfoot, but you’ll appreciate that raised center when the leaves and debris start gathering.
The screen that we made for our motor well bowl has a bent flange to better fit to the bowl wall and a bolt to keep it located to the drain hole which alleviates the need to bolt it down in place or making holes in the deck surface.
https://macgregorsailors.com/mods/index ... em&id=2191

There no one way “best” way to solve the problem, just what works for you.
Best Regards
Over Easy

A flat screen can clog/block with just one good sized leaf …. Try and see if you can ge something that has a raised center screen which will, at least when on the trailer, allow the drain to still function.
I can understand that one might not want a raised center screen while out sailing (as it could get underfoot, but you’ll appreciate that raised center when the leaves and debris start gathering.
The screen that we made for our motor well bowl has a bent flange to better fit to the bowl wall and a bolt to keep it located to the drain hole which alleviates the need to bolt it down in place or making holes in the deck surface.
https://macgregorsailors.com/mods/index ... em&id=2191

There no one way “best” way to solve the problem, just what works for you.
Best Regards
Over Easy
