normal water in the boat? - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

MrHunters · 07-17-2006, 10:10 AM

After my fiasco with the dealer forgetting to put two of the three drain plugs in I have been especially paranoid about water in the hull.

After a normal trip of about 5 hours and no waves over the bow or stern, I drain for about a a minute and a half or so on a relatively steep incline. Is this normal water or should i be looking for possible reasons for this?

There is a plate with slots mounted on the bottom of the hull near the stern.. any ideas what that is for??

taJon · 07-17-2006, 10:26 AM

Sounds normal to me.

MrHunters · 07-17-2006, 10:29 AM

yeah... im thinking so as well. but im just paranoid now.

Roger · 07-17-2006, 10:52 AM

Drains as in drips or drains as in a few gallons rushing out? The first is probably normal, the second sounds like a problem.

FWIW, the slotted plate might be a baitwell pickup. FWIW, you should go over every item, switch, valve, compartment, etc with the dealer so that you know where everything is, and what its for.

MrHunters · 07-17-2006, 11:03 AM

drains as in rushes out a few gallons im guessing.

UserRemoved1 · 07-17-2006, 11:07 AM

rain water

It takes a while sometimes for it to slosh around far enough to all get out the limber holes. First time I holeshot out of the marina I always hit the bilge switch and drain out the last few gallons. Iv'e seen it go for a few minutes sometimes too.

MrHunters · 07-17-2006, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&

rain water

It takes a while sometimes for it to slosh around far enough to all get out the limber holes. First time I holeshot out of the marina I always hit the bilge switch and drain out the last few gallons. Iv'e seen it go for a few minutes sometimes too.

i thought that... but this is EVERY time i get back.
I leave it on the hill of the driveway and pull the plug.

UserRemoved1 · 07-17-2006, 11:22 AM

yep but remember every time you park it there is always going to be water somewhere. Mine gets parked on an incline transom down and it don't drain even with the plug out there is always something in it. Even more when it pulls out of the driveway which is pretty steep-it all goes to the rear then. Things to look for is a possible poor sealing job on the hull sections if it's fiberglass, sometimes it can be hidden from view by the rub rail, other things are rod holders not sealed, drain bungs, lights etc. They all can leak into the bilge if not sealed properly.

capesams · 07-17-2006, 11:32 AM

my 23's dry as a bone even after a heavy downpour......or even a 4'er over the stern....I'd start checking....boatyards aren't the best, they may have a good rep. but it depend's on the guy that worked on the boat that day too. Take nothing to chance..time for a recon of all fitting and hatches.

MrHunters · 07-17-2006, 11:33 AM

the drain plugs are the threaded kind (3 of them)
it is a rolled gunwale. the rod holders are on a transom platform and the lights are removeable...theres not much to the boat..

ill have to go over the seals again with a little more attention.

there are some grooves cut in by the rollers but the impression is not bad.

UserRemoved1 · 07-17-2006, 11:36 AM

Check the hull for cracks under it...

I don't have ANY experience with THAT

capesams · 07-17-2006, 11:38 AM

PS> don't use silicone calking...sure it'll last years, but doesn't STICK to anything and caulk all threaded parts.You could have a leak in the connection in that pick-up strainer thats in the bottom of the hull,,,hose,,,connector,,fitting...check it.

thefishingfreak · 07-17-2006, 05:46 PM

put it on the trailer, fill it with water, find leak

stiff tip · 07-17-2006, 06:30 PM

too small a boat for that much water..i go all day w/ less then that...fill it w/ water look 4 wet spots....

MrHunters · 07-17-2006, 06:45 PM

damage concerns by doing that?

thefishingfreak · 07-17-2006, 06:53 PM

just do a little at a time. a few inches then check.then a few more.
it's gota be comming in one of the thru hulls i bet.
you probly only have to fill it to the waterline to find out.
couple hundred4-5-600 pounds should be ok. like 4 guys standing on the deck while it's on the trailer.
as for the water itself in there? it's allready wet in there..

MrHunters · 07-17-2006, 07:41 PM

true very true...
i guess my concern would be the rollers pressing into the bottom of the hull. it already has some groove marks from the rollers.

MTC · 07-17-2006, 08:32 PM

My Polar is always dry as a bone... if there has been a lot of rain the rod holders that drain into the bildge may drop a gallon or 2 in.

MrHunters · 07-17-2006, 08:38 PM

mtc,
what model do you have?

MTC · 07-17-2006, 09:28 PM

2300 CC

http://fishmtc.tripod.com/id26.html

MTC · 07-17-2006, 09:30 PM

If you need the email for the President of Sales for Polar PM me and I'll give it to you. His name is Eric and he has helped me in the past.

fishaholic18 · 07-17-2006, 09:42 PM

Be careful filling the boat with water while on the trailer, you could crush the trailer very easily. Ask me how I know..

Broke my frame once.

Slipknot · 07-17-2006, 09:50 PM

that don't sound right
if the boat is fairly new, I would bring it back and tell them
I bet a thru hull fitting is dripping somewhere, they should have access and hose clamps that can be tightened, then again if they screwed up and did NOT use caulk when the fitting was installed, you could sink the boat if left in the water like happens at times.

I would not add much extra weight while on a roller trailer, I hate those kind, they don't distribute the weight evenly enough so no wonder the rollers are already causing trouble.

Fishguts · 07-17-2006, 10:08 PM

Just another thoutht. your boat looks like it rides close to the water, if you stop quick you may be taking on water over the transom and not even knowing it.

MrHunters · 07-18-2006, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fishguts

Just another thoutht. your boat looks like it rides close to the water, if you stop quick you may be taking on water over the transom and not even knowing it.

i've been looking at that. and you are right it does take water over the transom if i stop quickly.. that being said, not sure what its called but the cavity right in front of where the motor is mounted on the transom is sealed off and drains through two scuppers with the self bailing ping pong balls. As far as I can tell that is not leaking into the hull but I will take a closer look next time that happens.

mtc,
I may take you up on that, lets see what cape ann marina has to say first. They are pretty good people.

oh, unless you want to trade???

your boat suuurrre is purty.

Sgt_Nutz · 07-18-2006, 08:47 AM

Check the seal around the the u-bolt that secures the boat to the trailer on the bow. The one you hook your winch strap or cable to. My uncle was taking a trickle of water through there every time he was underway.

capesams · 07-18-2006, 06:17 PM

any bolts holding the motor on blow the deck/waterline?

MrHunters · 07-18-2006, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capesams

any bolts holding the motor on blow the deck/waterline?

yep.
i was thinking about that tonight while i was out.

its gotta be comming through something like or a thru hole... there is no other place.. no cracks in the hull...
u bolt is find. blew water up under the rub rail for a while with nothing.
I turned the shut off valve to off on the live bait well in and out.

90 seconds of water streamed out tonight. for about 3 hours of soaking.

tomorrow morning i will be out for about 5 hours and ill see how long it drains for.

im also going to fill some jugs to see exactly how much its holding.

driving me nutso....note a major concern, just one of those itches you just cant scratch.