*tip* Does Your Boat Drain Water When You Pull The Plug? I Have A Possible Reason Why.

[J-Doc]

For 2yrs, I wondered why my boat drained a little bit of water every trip when I pulled the plug. I checked all possible spots, applied silicone around any ports, etc. After further exploring, I noticed that the boat took on water if my bud fished from the back. I checked the bumper rail to see if water was getting in between the top cap of the hull, etc.

Finally, i figured out that my bilge pump discharge was the source. When he stood on that particular corner of the rear deck, the port dipped below the water line allowing water to drain into the pump hose and the bilge pump evidently does not have a backflow preventer or check valve of any type.

Solution?

I found a bilge pump discharge port online, purchased one for about $6, drilled a new hole in the washover well(?) and relocated the discharge point. Now the discharge is completely above the water level and I'll never have that problem.

Now when I pull the plug, it's bone dry. Unless I drain the live well...........LOL!

Here's a video showing the relocated port. It better describes my solution. Hope this helps out someone. Drove me nuts for 2yrs!! I thought I had major problems. Turns out it was nothing.

http://youtu.be/F27sSpyBdpM

[fishinwrench]

Ahem! Reverse trap

[J-Doc]

As the minions on the movie Despicable Me say..

"Oh poop"

Well yeah, that would have worked. I way over thought it. The hose I have was the original and stiffer than an overdose of Viagra. I would have had to replace the entire hose (which I did anyway). I didn't like having the port below or right at the water line anyway. Harder to tell when it was flushing out. NOW I know for sure. lol

I still like my idea better so there!! Smarty pants!

[fishinwrench]

I guess it all depends on whether you prefer to hike-a-leg....or Squat to pee.

Nice job on the sex change there, Doc!

[Feathers and Fins]

I just pull my boat to the top of the ramp so truck is level and boat is still angled and let gravity drain it out only takes a few seconds.

[J-Doc]

I guess it all depends on whether you prefer to hike-a-leg....or Squat to pee.

Nice job on the sex change there, Doc!

Don't you have an old motor to rebuild or something??

Lol!!

[J-Doc]

I just pull my boat to the top of the ramp so truck is level and boat is still angled and let gravity drain it out only takes a few seconds.

I hear ya but you have an alum hull. Mine is not and I like it to stay dry. I at least know where water was getting in. That was my biggest concern anyway. I figure my solution was an easy fix.

Oh and wrench, the hose was SO stiff and tough, I could not get to the factory discharge. There was SO much foam around it and I had to get a shear to cut the original hose. Darn near needed a small saw. Crazy stiff. I don't know if I had enough room for a reverse trap either although, that is a better idea.

[Wayne SW/MO]

A little water doesn't hurt real fishing boats.

I fished a tournament on Eufaula in Ok back in the 70's and late in the afternoon I noticed the boat getting pretty low in the water, no automatic bilge, and it turned out it had a lot of water in it. I ran the bilge and an hour later it was getting high again. After failing to find a reason we left early and I pulled out. Later I found out I had split the hull along one of the stringers on a big wave at the start.

[J-Doc]

I already fixed my split hull. This why I was so paranoid about the water getting in. I was trying to find the second source.

One thing is for sure, the repaired portion of the hull IS by far the strongest part of the boat now. I whet a bit above and beyond with the epoxy resin and mesh!! Lol

[fishinwrench]

Oh and wrench, the hose was SO stiff and tough, I could not get to the factory discharge. There was SO much foam around it and I had to get a shear to cut the original hose. Darn near needed a small saw. Crazy stiff

Yeah they used to plumb those old boats with braided nylon tubing that looks like thin-walled garden hose and I know how that stuff is after a few years. I change all that crap out and replace with the black flex hose any time I run across it.. You should have had room to do a loop there where the vent hose WAS (I'm sure it is rotten and gone by now too).

As for the foam: You just have to dig it out, clean up the mess with a shop vac, then shoot in some new. That stuff is cheap.