Question about self bailing system

[Norwegian Viking]

Hi!<br />First of all I like to say that my knowledge about boats are limited and the names on the different parts of a boat I use to explain my problem has to do with the lack of inadequate knowledge of the proper names in english. Never the less, I hope someone will understand what I mean and help me out?<br />I have just bought an old Dory Dell Quay 15 feet in pretty good shape. It has a "self bailing" system with one 2 inch hole in the transom and one smaller hole through a wall from the deck to the "engine well". The water are supposed to be drained from the deck through the little hole into the "engine well" and out the big hole when I accelrate the boat. The hole in the transom is under the waterline when the engine is mounted. It is no arrangement(valve) to stop the water from flowing in to the "engine well" were I also store the fuelt tank and battery box. There used to be some kind of arrangement that is no longer there. I can se some drilling holes and som gasket material around the big hole from the "engine well" side. I keep the boat on a trailer, and on my first attempt to put it to sea, the water was flowing into the "engine well" and through the little hole into the deck. I immidiatly pulled it back on to the trailer.<br />Shouldnt it be some kind of valve in the big hole that prevent the water to flow in to the boat when it is on the water? <br /><br />Many thanks in advance!<br />Paul the NV

 

[Jack Shellac]

Re: Question about self bailing system

Is this with an outboard motor? I assume it is, but need to be sure. Every self-bailing system I've ever seen drains through the transom directly over board. It works because the deck is higher than the water line. Many boats motor wells have drain holes that are some times below the water line. This dosn't hurt because there is no way for it to get into the boat. If I'm understanding you correctly, the water entering the motorwell drains back into the boat through a hole. This obviously is not good. I've seen flapper type plugs that only let the water flow one way and maybe this was what was originally on your boat. However, I don't believe I'd want any water coming into where I kept the battery and fuel. Maybe you need to plug them all and keep a bailing bucket on board. I may not be understanding the situation correctly, but that's my visualization of your setup.

 

[RatFish]

Re: Question about self bailing system

Maybe you need to install scuppers?

 

[Norwegian Viking]

Re: Question about self bailing system

Jack!<br />You understood everything perfectly well despite my relatively poor explanation.<br />Yes, it is an outboard Mariner 40 mounted on the transom. Ive found a picture of the boat (not mine) on the web. Mine is not that luxurious equipped but the hull is the same. http://www.pooleboatpark.fsnet.co.uk/DellQuay15.htm <br />On the upper right picture you can see the drainhole and the drainhole bushing in metal that is missing on my boat. The bushing comes in two parts, and I have the one on the outside of the transom. It does not look as it have any kind of flapper or scupper. The little hole is in the wall between the motorwell and the boat deck. On this picture it is covered by the seat.<br />The hull is filled with foam and are supposed to be unsinkable. Could the aft part of the foam been soaked with rainwater over the years, make it to heavy and subsequently submerge the drainhole when I put the engine on? <br />The former owner never used it and stored it in the open on dry land for more than two years. He bought it from a Royal Navy yacht club in Stavanger, Norway when the brittish officers in the NATO HQ went back to England. So bottom line is that no one really knows the history of the boat and how the draining originally was set up. The boat is made in England and not very common in Norway.<br />Thank you both for answering my odd question.<br />All the best,<br />Paul

 

[richg99]

Re: Question about self bailing system

I'm just guessing, but I'd think that the "below waterline opening" should be plugged at all times, unless you were draining the boat after putting it back on the trailer. <br /><br />Also, the "opening on the deck that drains into the -bilge- area" should be plugged unless you were washing her down. <br /><br />If there is an opening at the deck level and that opening is ABOVE the waterline while at rest, with you on it...it may be left open.........but ... I'd rather have it closed with a removable plug. <br /><br />You are correct regarding the foam. If a foam core boat is left out in the rain for a long time, and the drain holes ( all three mentioned above ) are not left OPEN....then water will sit on the surfaces. It may find its way into the foam. There often are small drilled holes that were used to attach a console, etc. that were not properly sealed during the inital installation.<br /><br />We have a case of that under discussion on the Carolina Skiff group this week. The owner, who bought an older used boat, was advised by the factory to drill some holes in the transom; prop up the bow, and wait for a number of weeks to see if all of the water would finally leave. <br /><br />Is there anyway to weigh your boat; trailer and engine??... then subtract the known weights of the engine and trailer, and ascertain how much the hull alone weighs? Perhaps you can find the specificiations for weight of a dry hull via the internet. Then you can compare and see if, indeed, you have a water-logged foam core. <br /><br />Another method is to dill a hole in the transom and see what comes out. Fiberglassing up the small hole will seal it once again. RichG

 

[Jack Shellac]

Re: Question about self bailing system

After I thought about it some more, it seems to me that the designer intended all the holes to be kept plugged until you were actually skimming down the fjord and wanted to drain some water out of the boat. Only then would the plugs be removed and then replaced before coming off plane. Of course, the plugs would be removed on the trailer to let the boat drain out. You apparently are missing part of the drain hole assembly, but this is cheap and easy to replace.<br /> By the way, I was in Norway a few years ago. Beautiful country and nice people, but I didn't like reindeer meat. HA.

 

[Norwegian Viking]

Re: Question about self bailing system

Hi and thank you both for your answers. <br /><br />Yes, I have an oportunity to weigh the equipage at the local scrap heap. Maybee I just should leave the lot there! <br />I know the approx weight of the boat, and the exact weight of the engine and trailor.<br />The drainholes have been left open the whole time the boat was stored. There are some small drillholes in the deck. They are not properly sealed but will be very soon.<br />The boat bottom paint water line is drawn above the aft drainhole, so obviusly this is not a new situation. I will install a removable drain plug and follow Jacks advice.<br />Jack: <br />Raindeer meat or "christmas horse" is maybee the most delicious meat you can get. Did you think of Rudolph? Willy the whale is also kind of popular. Glad you liked it here.. I dont think you like it in the wintertime. Freezing cold, no boating or fishing.<br />All the best and thanks again,<br />Paul

 

[Das Boot]

Re: Question about self bailing system

Hello Norwegian Viking;<br /><br />I have used the Dell Quay Dory, the one i operated had a plug in the tramsome that was re movable from inside the boat.<br /><br />The method is to run the boat and then remove the plug to bail her out.<br /><br />After the water is removed put the plug back in.<br /><br />Possibly you could install a "Zodiac" type bailing valve, they have a little rubber flapper inside of them as well as a rubber plug, which is removed from the outside.<br /><br />We have the same outboard motor, mine is a 1994 Mariner Magnum 40, i know from other posts you were having problems with yours, i hope you get it sorted out because it's a fine engine although my knowledge about outboards is limited.<br /><br />Good Luck;