New to boating-got hull water out...too late???

A

amad

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Jun 5, 2012
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16
Hi everyone,
I just bought a 1969 Old Town DV1780 boat with a 1970 Johnson 60 hp motor on Tuesday. When I lifted the trailer tongue up high (with drain plug out) no water came out. When I set it down I could hear a good bit of water sloshing inside. I think it got in through the two vents on top of the stern of the boat with hoses leading to the floor that are supposedly for ventilation under there, but seem better suited for allowing water into the hull. After trying to figure how to get it out, I finally took a long drill bit and drilled a hole in the side of the "box" in the floor where water would drain from the floor to the drain plug. When I did that, water started pouring out of that hole and out the drain plug. I'm estimating that about 5 gallons came out. My question is, do you think it has caused damage in there? There are no soft spots in the floor at all. Floor feels very solid everywhere. I did notice the wood behind the dash board is pretty rotted and crumbly dry. Is it possible for that to be rotted from age, but the floor to be good? The boat seems to be in immaculate condition for its age.


Thanks for any advice.
Aaron
 
southkogs

southkogs

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Jul 7, 2010
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Re: New to boating-got hull water out...too late???

What's odd is that there was a place that water couldn't escape from ... usually there is a route from under the floor/sole to the bilge. How long do you think that water was in there? if it's only been a few days, I would relax. The longer it's been in there, the more I'd be concerned.

Here in TN, depending on what you're doing most of the time, unless your floor is soft and/or your transom flexes it' most likely safe (in terms of "you will likely not die") run on the lakes, impounds and rivers. The moment you begin to suspect your floor/sole or transom, you've got to suspect the stringers as well - and that's a hull killer.

Post a picture of your vents. It's unusual (but not impossible) that that's how water is getting in.
 
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