23 Self-bailing deck history ?

[Mooncusser]

Are there certain years where the 23 actually had scuppers out the back, rather than the deck bailing into the bilge? Do current, non-classic, SCs bail through scuppers or into the bilge? What years were/are considered "sinkers" because of the deck bailing issue?

Thanks.

[ScottM]

Mooncusser,
I could be wrong, but I believe starting in 1980 CSY moved the scuppers to the transom. My father's '82 has them this way. Leaking through-deck drains and decks below the water line are what started the "SinkCraft" name.

[Capt Chuck]

SinkCraft [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

My Potter built '78 self bails thru the deck pipes and 90* out the transom [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] I think older years went straight thru the bottom of the boat as my hull still has the indentation in the mold. The Boat has too much foam to sink but I would assume that if If someone's boat filled with water, it had to enter the rear vents or the OB cable outlets due too excessive weight at the stern. A combination of twins, excessive number of people, the baitwell being full and non-working bilge pumps. [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

[Mooncusser]

I've heard most of those that go under do so when tied up in a slip and heavy rains fill the bilge. That's what I've heard. I think there were changes made a few times to the scuppers and the way the decks drained. I'm trying to get an idea of what years those changes were made and what the changes were.

[RS]

FWIW, my 20' 1979 MA drains through the transom, while a buddy’s 1978 drains through the bottom. According to the hull id, my outer hull came out of the mold in 9/78, while his was struck in 5/78. I know you asked about a 23, but I thought this might give some insight anyway.

Also, I think the sinking issue could be from water getting past the hatch in the splash well and into the bilge. That area is usually wet from wave action at the stern.

[Miles Offshore]

Also the plugs being left installedduring a heavy rain leaving the water no where to go except in the bilge, and relying on one of those damn 10$ float switches that fail frequently. (I had a Mako sink at the pier back in the early eighties in this manner)Another police inboard like mine sunk here when they had for some reason put a crab dreging rig on the stern and left it tied up to a pier. I dont know if the plugs were left in or out but that was a lot of weight on the stern, but she sank like a rock. I also know of or have heard of them sinking from the scupper tube breaching between the inner and outer hull allowing water to fill the bilge. I fixed this by removing the old tubes, filling the holes with west system, redrilling the holes. right now they are just holes that my plugs fill in and lock. When I haul out soon I will install new tubes both inside and outside using the tubes sold at West marine and some 5200. The single 6" tube that has to be rolled,flared etc is no longer required. I actually like the scuppers going thru the deck especially when moored because most of the rainwater travels down towards the stern and out of the boat instead of into the bilge. JMO

[Doghouse4x4]

I can speak as a 1987 23' owner who's boat sank(not under my ownership though!) the scuppers had nothing to do with it, but they can be a nuisance when it comes to cleaning because the deck channels tend to mildew from standing water. I imagine it would be pretty bad with twins on the back, since my single 225 leaves the scuppers right on the waterline. They've discharged rain water efficently in every storm that's come through since I 've had the boat, which includes a few hurricanes. The previous owner let the boat sink by not charging the batteries prior to a hurricane which left him with no bilge pump, but a great deal on a boat for me!

[pogden]

I have a 78 MA, that sank at the dock from a combination of things [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

--bilge that wasn't working properly.still not sure if it was battery or old wiring.
--water being blown up over low transom and leaking in around the bilge access cover in splash well and down into bilge.

I really don't know if the through deck scuppers had anything to do with it??? [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

[sokinwet]

Recently found out from the original owner that my 71 Seafari was a "sinker". Not sure how but it has the 6" brass flared tubes throught the deck. It only drains at slow speed or at rest with min. weight at the stearn; if I run with the plugs out water comes in like a fountain! When the fish box is full your feet get wet! Anyone else with this problem? Any suggestions?

[ocuyler]

It's interesting to note that the majority of the sinkings were due to a lack of maintainence and/or attention on the part of the owner/operator. Most of what has been stated can pretty much be anticipated and prevented. Murphy's law has a seporate sub-section just for boats.

I firmly believe that these boats were not designed to be left in a slip for long periods of time without a full mooring cover, lift or trailer. My $.02.