Self-Bailing Deck Question

[Michael Vezzosi]

Guys, how are ya? Been thinking about rogue waves and crash pumps alot by reading so much on the new information highway. In 1999, I had a previous fiberglass professional rebuild my transom, prior to hanging the new motor. Also note, prior to finding this site and wealth of knowledge.

We agreed that the self bailing PVC looked like a Home Depot job, and that to prolong the life of the new transom, we should eliminate the scuppers, running all water from the deck, directly into the bilge.

Though I never remember having wet feet, I honestly did not realize the cockpit was self bailing, nor how important it was. How bad have I screwed up? Have I created my own Sinkcraft?
What should I do now? Thanks. Vezo, Part II.

[FELLOW-SHIP]

Ha Vezo
It seems to me that when there is a reel troublesome problem with anything we deal with normally we will go one of two ways to solve it. The first way is overbuild it the other way is use the layering protection method to avoid problems. For boats and water sinking them I think the layering method of protection is the best option. First off a self bailing boat does exactly that bails out the boat without any assistance by us. Then comes the layering with either one or two bilge pumps with automatic switches in them to kick in if water gets into the bilge.
On my boat first off the self bailing still is in tack plus I have one 1500 bilge pump set up on a automatic switch and the other 1500 bilge pump that is strictly manual. For me I would re work your boat for self bailing plus have your bilge backup system ALWAYS WORKING. I got a little story for ya 20 + years ago I bought a new boat and on my second trip on the boat I over did it. I had a extra live well on board plus two many people on the boat for the weather conditions. Any way I started taking some water into the boat from the stern while drift fishing so is said I’ll just turn on the bilge pump and remove all the excess water “no big deal” will I was wrong it became a “Big Deal” the manufacturer of the boat DID NOT remove all the chips of fiberglass from the hull before putting the boat together so when I turned on the bilge pump pieces of fiberglass got into the impeller and jammed the pump nothing came out. I did get the boat back to the dock but it could have gone the other way and we could have made front page in the news I WAS SHOWN MERCY FROM THE MAN UP STARES. After that trip I always have two Working Large bilge pumps I check the weather and have all the safety equipment on board and working.
FellowShip [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

[Doghouse4x4]

I concur with Fellowship's method wholeheartedly. Anything that can go wrong will, and I've been lucky to make it through several situations that could have gone the other way. My 23' has original scuppers plus and auto bilge pump, and a fully manual one hardwired to a switch. The peace of mind alone is worth it [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[blockislandguy]

As you can tell, I'm new to the forum and Seacraft. So, let me ask, what ever happened to old fashioned scuppers in the stern? You know, those nice rectangular holes in the stern that get rid of all the deck water before it drains into the bilge and causes problems. Aren't they far more preferable to the internal tubes I keep reading about? For those with new fully enclosed sterns, a sabre saw and a sawzalll would do the trick. New model scuppers even have ping pong balls in them to avoid taking on water when backing down. Or am I missing something?

[Michael Vezzosi]

Thank you for explaining what I kind of expected to hear. I've only taken one over the bow from a large wake, and it really did not phase me. But I could see taking two or three unexpectedly and the bilge pump completely overwhelmed. I am not too proud to say that I have launched while forgetting the plug. Back on terra firma rather quickly and that pump ran for a long time. I would like to have a more modern/professional system than the last, and will probably have assistance from a friend in the business. I guess I would want a short 90 just below the deck, then slightly sloping pipe through the transom, ending with the ping pong ball type scuppers. Pretty much what was there before, but if I remember correctly, the PVC extended past the transom almost an inch, threaded, and caps were left inside the livewells port and starboard. I think I ran them capped until I came home to wash the boat, probably because They were located below the waterline. Sound correct? Thanks all. Vezo, Part II.

[nestorpr]

I don't know if this will help but back when my dad owned a Bertram 25 we installed these black rubber flapper valves that would let water out but would bend and seal at any other times. The boat was always in the water (saltwater) and they lasted for a looong time unless the crabs destroyed them! Then it would be just a small matter to replace them for a few bucks and they were small and unobtrusive, sometimes the simplest design is the best.