leaky boat ?

[bikodog]

I recently bought a very old(1969) 15 ft. Texas trihull, my first power boat, and I'm about to get the engine problems worked out. However I can't figure the bottom of the hull out. <br /><br />Back at the transom the drain plug sits in a lower area of the boat than the floor, and there are two other drain plugs in the sides from the floor that are live well type plugs. I pulled those plugs and enough water drained into the basin to exit through the main drain plug.<br /><br />Does this just make sure that if the hull is leaking that no more will come in past those small drain plugs? I'm really confused.<br /><br />Thanks for any and all help...

 

[Solittle]

Re: leaky boat ?

I suspect hat the lower drain polug is the typical drain plug. The upper plugs would be installed from the inside allowing you to drain water out while underway.

 

[bikodog]

Re: leaky boat ?

I was afraid I didn't explain it right, and I'm sure I didn't. The other 2 drain plugs don't exit out of the boat, but into the bilge. and they appear to just drain from under the floor. I'm wondering why you would ever want to plug them, as they would just hold water between the floor and outside hull. Unless the hull is very leaky and they only allow so much water in and then you drain them later.<br /><br />Would it be designed to let water in the lower part of the hull for ballast?

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: leaky boat ?

No, the bilge plugs are there so you can drain the bilge under the floor when water gets in there. Not for ballast. If your floor has any soft spots, time to drill a hole and check for water-soaked foam, stringers and floor. Maybe time for a new floor if you find them waterlogged. If water keeps coming out after you pull the bilge plugs, you have water getting under the floor somehow. Not a good thing.

 

[bikodog]

Re: leaky boat ?

about 3 weeks ago, i put it in the lake without the drain plug, and the whole back half of the boat had water in it, I hope that's the main culprit. I also found a leak in the bottom and patched that, so maybe once I get it all drained out, it will stay that way. <br /><br />It's an old boat, if I can get a couple of years out of it, I'll be pretty happy.<br /><br /><br />Thanks for the reply.