LEAKS? BUT NOT SURE FROM WHERE?

[JPARKS]

I HAVE A 1984 20 SEACRAFT, I BOUGHT IT ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO. ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO IT SANK. TOTALLY DISGUSTED I LET THE BOAT SIT. ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE OFFERED TO GO INTO PARTNERS WITH ME ON THE SEACRAFT. HE PUT A T-TOP, NEW ELECTRICAL, 2001 200 EVINRUDE...HE LAUNCHED FOR THE FIRST TIME WHEN I WAS OUT OF TOWN. IT SANK THE NEXT DAY!! I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT SEACRAFTS ESPECIALLY OLDER ONES HAVE LEAKS IN THE THRU HOLE FITTINGS AND OTHER AREAS THRU OUT THE HULL. COULD ANY ONE GIVE SOME ADVICE AS TO WHAT SHOULD BE DONE TO INSURE THERE ARE NO LEAKS. AND HOW TO FIX IT. THANKS, JW

[Mark]

"other areas thru out the hull"? I see there being a limited amount of places that could cause that amount of water to get in.

1. the drain thru hull out of the forward fish box
2. the thru hulls where the floor drains through
3. the plug in the transom.

If those three options are sound and you are still sinking, I'd have it put on a lift and have a good look at the bottom of the boat - have you grounded REALLY hard with that boat?

Alternatively, if it is sinking that fast, open up the various hatches and put the boat in the water to SEE where it is coming in from.

And lastly, although there has been talk on various boards about older 23's sinking in the slip due to scuppers at water level when sitting low in the tail, from what I hear it's not as common with the 20's and I'm willing to bet that a number of the 23's on this site live very happily in their slips without the owners worrying about only seeing an antenna in the morning - and most are older than the boat you have.

I hope you get it figured out, as I'm sure it's a pretty awful feeling to see docklines leading down into the water to where you suspect your boat is.

[John R]

What is the waterline like when sitting and what is the transom height.

All that new weight has got ti sit the stern more than before. Are the scuppers under? or even close? Do you scuppers which are only one way? Like the ball & cone type (forget the name)?

[Mark]

John,

I don't know about the 1984 boats, but the scupper situation on most of the older 20' boats wouldn't benefit from the ball/cone type, as they are out the bottom of the boat - not through the transom. There were two little drains for the splash well, but I doubt a flooded splashwell would sink a boat - I hope not anyway.

Good enough reason to raise the floor during a refit though.

[Trayder]

Hello JPARKS-

is this your boat?



and is this your Uncle's?



just curious, if so I think I may have some answers [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[John R]

Schweet boats - both are very nice...