2025 Freedom 215 Cockpit doesn't drain completely

[maddfrog]

We recently bought a 2025 Freedom 215 and we've noticed that the cockpit never drains completely. There's always a bit of water around the stern scuppers, especially the port as the boat lists just a bit to that side, probably due to the weight of the head and the lounge seat. There's usually a pint or two left after a rinse or a rain. We board on that side and it's a nuisance. I've looked at a couple of other Gradys in the marina and they don't seem to have this issue.

I think it's due to the routing of the hoses - they rise behind the scupper and go behind the batteries right long the hull before dropping back down and exiting through the stern under the platforms. Other 215s seem to have the batteries mounted on inner side of the rear hatch and the hoses exit through the side instead of the stern.

Any idea why ours is different and how it might be altered to drain better? Can the batteries be moved to the inside so the hoses can run straight to the stern or would they backflow?

 

[seasick]

A picture of the scuppers in question might help.
On some boats, the deck drain has a outer rim that can make the actual hole in the fitting sit slightly above the level of the deck. Some boats add a recess underneath the scupper that allows the scupper and its rim to be mounted lower to the deck. Of course the recess into the floor may have water in it but just a little. What I am saying is that you issue may be in the design of the drains.
Are your exterior scuppers above the water line?
List at rest is common and often just about impossible to correct using reasonable fixes. When at rest go sit on the starboard gunnel aft and see if the hull still lists to port. If it gets a litter better, have another person also sit on the gunnel with you' If that corrects the list, you have an idea of how much weight has to be shifted.
I doubt that the head is the cause of the list

 

[maddfrog]

Thanks - the drain does have a chrome ring around it and a little recess below it that will never drain completely. I don't love it, but it is what it is. The issue is that there's always a pint or two more than that. I looked at a couple of other Gradys last night and I found a Fisherman 216 with similar routing to mine that was dry and a Freedom 215 with the side routing, also dry, so I think my installation is off somehow. Here are a few pics of the setup, but the battery hides the rise in the line. The external shot where the through-hull is underwater was taken with me kneeling on the platform above it. The other was from the dock, so it's sitting a bit higher.

 

[DennisG01]

If there's a rise in the hose after it leaves the interior deck fitting, yes, that sounds like the issue. Re-route the hose and or cut some of the hose off - depends on which way would work better - you can see it better than us

Or... since it's a 2025 - maybe your GW dealer will be able to do this under warranty.

 

[seasick]

In the photo looking down the side of the hull. it looks like the thru hull fitting is half under the water line. Is that the case?

 

[maddfrog]

I took two shots - the first was while is was kneeling on the swim platform - that's the one with the fitting in the water. There's a second that I took from the dock where the fitting is above the water.

 

[seasick]

OK. Try Dennis's suggestion that the drain tube may have an upward 'loop'. See if it looks that way and if you can bend it down or reposition it so that no part sits higher than the deck.

 

[maddfrog]

Thanks!

 

[seasick]

I don't know if this was discussed but one thing to try is to use a hose to shoot water into the deck drain and confirm that a strong stream comes out the transom side. The drain tube might be clogged. Scuppers with flaps are prone to clogging and binding.

 

[Lew]

I have a 2024 freedom 215…had the same problem ….
First year.dealer said he could not fix it ….second year he said he could fix it and did under warranty…dealer does all my servicing Port Harbor Marine Middleton Mass. …he said he re bent or routed the hoses…it is 98% fixed… I still sometimes get a table spoon of residual water and it does drain slowly but it is 98% better…..you might call him Tim service.

 

[maddfrog]

Thanks, Lew! My dealer is Port Harbor in South Portland, Maine! I'll have my service manager reach out.

 

[maddfrog]

Thanks Seasick - a clog was my first thought, so I shot a hose down both sides. Port didn't come out as strong as starboard, but it didn't shoot back at me either, so I think it was just due to the bend in the hose. Also ran a long flexible brush through it that seems to reach all the way to the flapper. I'm going to call the service manager this afternoon and see what she says.

 

[Lew]

I have a 2024 freedom 215…had the same problem ….
First year.dealer said he could not fix it ….second year he said he could fix it and did under warranty…dealer does all my servicing Port Harbor Marine Middleton Mass. …he said he re bent or routed the hoses…it is 98% fixed… I still sometimes get a table spoon of residual water and it does drain slowly but it is 98% better…..you might call him Tim service.

 

[Lew]

Hi Madfrog….Are you out of the water for the storm? I went out yesterday 18 mph 3 foot waves …going out of th harbor Marblehead…wind was on the nose…a few sprays over the windshield..Kind of exciting …don’t do much motoring in those conditions…turning the corner to go into Salem harbor conditions better as were more protected and went down harbor. The freedom 215 handles this stuff better than I….where do you do your boating? How are you liking the 215? Let me know about the scuppers…like to hear from you…

 

[maddfrog]

We were supposed to be out on Tuesday, but I hadn't heard any confirmation, so I went down last night to confirm and it was still in the water, although they had added a bunch of extra lines Called first thing this AM and they promised it would be out today. If not, I'm going to pull it tomorrow myself.

I talked to the service manager and they're going to look at the scuppers. Probably won't hear anything for a couple of weeks as they'll be deep in decomms for a bit.

We do most of our boating around Portland in Casco Bay, but we share a family cottage near Boothbay, so we spend a couple of weeks up there each summer. The 215 is big upgrade from our Key West 189FS. The KW was great around Boothbay because there are plenty of places to hide from the rough stuff. Casco Bay, not so much. It can get pretty choppy in there when the afternoon sea breeze kicks up and we often have to head directly into it for a couple of miles to get back from the places we like to hang out. The Grady handles it far better. Get a little spray sometimes, but we don't get the slamming we got with the KW and we can stay on plane instead of plowing through with bow up.

The dual console Grady is also much 'loungier' than the c;enter console KW was and even though it's only 3 feet longer and 6 inches wider, the layout makes it feel like we gained 6 feet. We don't fish, so the comfortable seating is worth more than being able to walk all way around the boat. The fit and finish are also a huge step up from the KW.

 

[DennisG01]

You're right - the Boothbay water area is a great area to boat around in - especially with the barrier islands. I'm just up around the corner from you in Friendship.

 

[Lew]

Hi ..Maddog good to hear you are enjoying the Freedom 215…..I went from a GW Voyager 24…1997 to the Freedom…the freedom is so versatile and like you say lounge….I don’t fish either…socially we have had fun with 6 people on the boat..adults …so it is very roomy. Also in the Spring when it is chilly I have the side as well as the windshield eisenglass up and the boat stays warm on a sunny but cool day. I have taken the Voyager from Marblehead to Portland with the Local yacht club cruise group.We

Cruised several different places in Casco bay including Diamond Island, Chebaque, and Sebasco harbor..Also we had a wonderful trip up a long river ( tributary) whose name is escaping me but I remember a famous sailer Dodge Morgan lived on an island in this tributary…we visited him as one of the cruise member was his buddy.
So far I have only gotten to Portsmouth NH in the Freedom, but I hope to get to Portland with her some day. When you go to Boothbay do you plan to take the Freedom by land on a trailer or motor over?