Slow draining sinks in boats and slow draining sinks in homes have many of the same problems. The most common cause is an obstruction in the line, usually grease buildup trapping hair or some other insoluble substance. Boats have the additional problem of barnacle clogging of valves and thru hulls. Try to free the clog using a plumber's helper first. If that doesn't work, run a very flexible plumbing snake through the lines, rotating and pressing gently so as not to damage plastic tubing. If the boat has been in salt water for several months, suspect marine life fouling of below water thru hulls. Do not use Draino or muratic acid the way you would in your home. It eats hell out of the pipes. LOarry Z

George of Scaramouche1, wintering Lake Ontario, Canada

LRZeitlin@aol.com writes: >If the boat has been in salt water >for several months, suspect marine life fouling of below water thru >hulls In the Great Lakes we have a creature called Zebra Mussel that loves to inhabit the first few inches of thru-hulls and pipes. An effective remedy is to pour undiluted household bleach down the drain. Kills the mussels and breaks their hold from the boat. Since I don't know what prolonged exposure to bleach does to marine plumbing, I always follow-up by flushing with liberal amounts of fresh water. Another useful unplugging method is to use the "Boat-Companion" discussed here before, and available from www.therainstick.com for under $30.- (No connection, but I use mine for all sorts of things and won't leave the dock without it) <grin> George of Scaramouche1, wintering Lake Ontario, Canada If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space.