By Don and Tys 1999 U270 36′
I did this because I want to minimize the number of penetrations through the bottom of the utility compartment and thus lessen the opportunity for water to get into the framing in that area. Those of you who are familiar with the scope of my bulkhead project will understand why I might take a bit of extra precaution in this area. Instead of having three separate penetrations for drain lines, I decided to use a manifold and reduce it to one three-quarter-inch hole for water to get out via the manifold.
The hole is fully sleeved with PVC epoxied to the fiberglass and urethane foam insulation between. The PVC 3/4″ street elbow that is screwed into the manifold is just press-fit into the sleeve with a bit of silicone to seal it. the manifold body is screwed to an aluminum block which is stuck to the fiberglass skin with some VHB stye double stick tape. Again, just trying to minimize the penetrations which need to be sealed against water intrusion.
The stainless steel manifold was available at my local Home Depot. It was surprisingly inexpensive at 16 bucks… Located in the flex pipe gas connection part of the store at The Home Depot
The PVC parts are just reducer slip fit bushings. I think the larger ones are 1-1/2″ to 1-1/4″ and the one that the manifold’s street elbow rests in is 1-1/4″ to 1″. I cut the inch and a half one down using a 3/4″ scrap of plywood with an inch and a half hole drilled in to hold the piece while I cut it and to make the cut square. It took awhile standing in front of the PVC bins playing erector set with parts to get that part of it worked out… obviously the 3/4″ street elbow isn’t meant to slip inside of anything else, but rather over a 3/4″ PVC pipe, but it just so happened that the one I picked outfit inside the bushing very nicely. I did use a little bit of emery cloth to ease it up a bit because I want to be able to get it out if I need to.