Splashwell scuppers

[Callipygian]

I finally got a chance to sea trial my 1978 20' MA. Runs like a bat out of hell with its 175 Suzuki but the engine appears too heavy for the boat. The transom is original and the boat has a jack plate to raise the engine 5". The problem is that the scuppers are underwater when the boat is at rest and need to be plugged. As the boat comes on plane they do come out of the water but its a pain to back and pull the plugs. When running below planing speed water fills the splash well and has nowhere to drain. Is there a good solution to this problem?
Geoffrey

[wtenglish]

What is the weight of your motor? How far below the waterline are your scuppers when the boat is at rest?

[SteveH]

My dad and i actually owned a 78 20ft MA for about twenty years. sold it in mid to late nineties.. We had a 175 merc on it which was probably considerably lighter than the four-stroke you are running. We did not have this issue generally. You may want to consider looking into some ball scuppers. Just a thought.. We had some black rubber attachments (dont know technical name) that used to keep water from coming in but allowed water to drain off of deck. there are some other threads on this site, if you want to do some research, where this topic was discussed.

[Callipygian]

Scuppers are 2 - 3" below the waterline at rest. I did a search but could not find any info. A lot of discussion on the floor scuppers and the use of rabuds for splashwells but nothing for scuppers below the water line. My guess is that the engine is just to heavy and sits too far back with addition of the jack plate. I was just hoping to find a self bailing scupper that might work below the waterline.

[joshmon71]

The rabud or ping pong ball scuppers are your best bet for a short term fix, just make sure they can be undone to free clogs. Close the transom in, get a bracket with positive flotation. Check out hermco brackets they are glass. Others have raised the deck as well. I think some folks have crossed the scupper tubes from one side to the other, but not sure that would help at rest, only when you have weight in a corner.

[Callipygian]

I went to order the rabuds but in the not so fine print it said NOT FOR USE BELOW THE WATERLINE. Looking for a short term fix. Also looking for the name of someone in the MA/RI area who can close in the transom, add a livewell, and a bracket this winter. Trayder, got any recommendations?

[fishing_fanatic]

Maybe a stupid idea here, thinking outside the box but what about attaching a collapsable/nonrigid hose out the scupper? It would probably have to be very thin yet stong. It would collapse when water tried to enter but open for water exiting. Just a thought

$0.02