Self bailing????

[discus420]

Just bought a new used boat. 1980 robalo 24 center console. i was told it was self bailing and did not need a bilge pump. i do not feel safe on the water without some sort of bilge pump. i was in the back water today for about an hour. when i came home and pulled the plug i noticed more water coming out of the hull than i would like to see. the transom is lowered in the back where the outboard mounts. some water comes over the back and there is a area where water comes in and out even when boat is just sitting in water. is it possibly coming from there? there are pvc tubes that run from the front of the boat to the rear area. i cant see an area to access the hull to install a bilge pump. any ideas or explainations that will make me feel more at ease? thanks for you time.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Self bailing????

When people refer to "self-bailing" it usually means the cockpit of the boat. That is, the floor you are standing on will naturally shed water to the rear which will exit through holes or valves located at or just above the water line.

A bilge pump is for pumping water out of the bilge area under the floor. So it's usually the case the a boat can be both self bailing and have a bilge pump. I'd say a boat your size certainly should have one.

It's a little hard to understand from your description what is going on with your boat. Can you post some photos of the transom area and the pipes you refer to?

As for access to the bilge, are there no hatches or anthing like that in the floor anywhere? If there's a plug you can remove there's got to be a space under there.

 

[DJ]

Re: Self bailing????

If you have water in the bilge, you have a leak somewhere. The most likely place is the plug itself.

It could also be a crack or an unsealed fastener in the deck. ie; console mount, seat mount, rails, etc.

'Self bailing" simply means that the deck is "sealed" from the bilge and the deck drains via scuppers out the transom. Just like Scoutabout described.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Self bailing????

I?ve never heard of a self bailing bilge. I have a self bailing cockpit yet have bilge pumps both fore and aft.

A self bailing cockpit is one where all the cockpit drains are dumped overboard. There should be no water getting into the bilge from a self bailing cockpit.

If your getting water then I suggest that you closely inspect all the hoses and thru hulls. Plastic thru hulls should be inspected regularly and replaced at least every 10 years. The same holds true for hoses.

The other place to check is your deck access plates. The o-rings get old and dry out and allow water to leak past them into the bilge.

Check your fish boxes and such to make sure that they drain over board and not into your bilge. Some manufactures take short cuts and dump this stuff in the bilge.


Pop the deck plates toward the rear of the boat. You should have access to the bilge from there.