Too much weight on transom?

B

Big-G

Member
Just purchased an old West Boats 18 footer in excellent shape but the 50hp 2 stroke Yamaha lowers the stern such that the stern deck drain hole takes in water. (Other post puts weight @ 189 lbs.) The previous owner repowered in 2005 with the Yama and used a plug in the drain hole and installed a bilge pump on deck to remove water. Works okay and I've personally been off shore with previous owner without problem. Is there another way to compensate for this problem and unplug the drain hole?

G
 
You can install check valves inline in your scupper drains, or go to check balls where the drains exit. It isn't uncommon to have the deck drains go underwater when in use, so most boats where this may happen have a check ball or check valve installed inline in the drain to reduce water coming back in.
 
Wish I had an answer for you.. My boat has the bilge pump setup also.. I redid the boat a few years back with a bracket and never even put the drain holes back. Too much motor back there.. Repower with a lighter specimen..??

About not being a self-bailer-- My thinking process goes like this -- my first four or five boats had drain plugs and were not self bailing (never had a problem), I don't leave the boat moored in the water and exposed to the elements (Trailer Queen) install and maintain a good bilge pump setup(2 pumps on automatic switches with an alarm) and lots of battery capacity (2) and experience (I have seen it rain hard for a solid week in the Florida Keys. I was pleasantly surprised because the pump setup worked like a charm, anxious I was) So I have some confidence in the bilge pump setup for the way I operate... NOT IDEAL mind you but maneagable.
 
Move weight forward

Batts, cooler, anchor, etc

50 lbs moved from the stern to the bow is like 100 lbs removed from the boat at the stern.

200 lbs moved... You get the picture.
 
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Feel better

Thanks all! Never had a boat with this set up but evidently it is common for water to invade through the drain hole. What I did not mention is that previous owner re routed fuel line up through the cap that covers access hole to lower bilge pump. This was done to reach a newly installed water separator filter. Also ran wiring and a home made live well hose through same cap. Water runs freely from deck into bilge though this access. I hope to re route this set up so I can put a new water tight cap on bilge access hole. The home made live well is a honey but I don't need it so I'm removing it entirely.

G
 
Scuppers

My boat a 1987 Aquasport Osprey 200 with Yama 150 the scuppers sit below the water line. Boat is in a marina. I installed PVC elbows (don't remember size 3/4" maybe) They work OK in heavy rain to help keep the boat from sinking. Bilge still gets water but not as much. Boat is a bad design for a marina. OK for trailer boat.
 
I personally would move weight forward as mentioned and install ball scuppers as mentioned. My v20 i just built has ball scuppers and they work awesome!!! (I dont care for the rubber flapper type...the rubber gets some age on it and curls and becomes stiff). I flounder fished. A wreck 18 miles offshore yesterday in my V and had to back down a couple times to align a proper drift and water came over and quickly drained out. If the scuppers stay underwater all the the time then put the boat in gear and drain the deck if you get some transom wash on the deck. But moving weight forward is the ticket!
 
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