Slowly Sinking

C

chrisandersen

Cadet
Joined
Nov 2, 2002
Messages
21
I have a 16' fiberglass centerconsole that i s supposed to be self bailing. The tunnel has two 1/2" brass plugs. The deck has two scupper valves. It sits on the water. The weight of the motor (75 hp) causes the scupppers to be underwater. So, water leaks into the deck when I get in. Then it pours into the the tunnel when the water in stern exceeds about 4".<br />How can I keep the water out of the tunnel so that the scuppers stay out of the water.<br />What are the best scuppers made that will keep water out?<br />Is there a way to get a bilge down there? I may be able to stick a tube in there, but that's it.<br />Thanks :confused:
 
M

mattttt25

Commander
Joined
Sep 29, 2002
Messages
2,661
Re: Slowly Sinking

when you say tunnel, are you refering to the bilge? i have a 20' cc that sounds like the same design, although my scuppers in the gunnel are just above water line. water does sometimes come in with heavy load, but runs out just as quick. i've been told to replace the scuppers (currently flap type) with the rolling ball type. haven't tried it yet, but i may. but you should have a bilge pump and yes, that would get the water out. guess i just don't understand the design you described.
 
D

DJ

Guest
Re: Slowly Sinking

gatorman,<br /><br />Mattt's got it.<br /><br />Yes the "ball type" scuppers will help. Water pressure holds the ball against the seat.<br /><br />I used two in a Palm Beach boat that I had that had nearly the same concern. I didn't have a bilge (tunnel) below the deck, yet I got tired of an inch of water in the boat near the transom all of the time, while at rest.
 
C

chrisandersen

Cadet
Joined
Nov 2, 2002
Messages
21
Re: Slowly Sinking

I went to West Marine to get the ball scuppers and they only had one. So, I bought two flappers. Last night, I bought a 120volt pump and pumped ou the bilge and the deck. Stuck two corks in the old scuppers. Today while I was away, we had three inches of rain. Since the rain could not get out, the deck and the bilge are filled again! <br />I am going to pull it out tommorrow and make sure there is not a hole in the bottom and replace the scuppers with the new flappers.<br />The weight of the 75 needs to be evened up by adding some weight to the bow. I have plans for a trolling motor and anothter battery, so that will help balance. <br />Should I wait for two new ball scuppers?<br />Thanks,<br />Gatorman
 
M

mattttt25

Commander
Joined
Sep 29, 2002
Messages
2,661
Re: Slowly Sinking

like i said, i sort of have the same problem, but i have an auto bilge pump that handles the water. personally, i am going to try the ball scuppers because the flaps just don't seem to work at rest.
 
T

trollhole

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 19, 2001
Messages
423
Re: Slowly Sinking

Hey gatorman did you buy the boat new? Has it always been this way? The reason I ask is maybe you have water intrusion in something. Like the foam or maybe the wood or transom that is causing extra weight. I have a center console and when it gets full of gear it can fill up with a little water but not four inches. Also I have a auto bilge under the floor that pulls any water that manages to get under the hatches. Something tells me that when they disigned your boat that they made correctly. But something has gone wrong since. Maybe the water channels under the floor have gotton clogged and are keeping water from reaching the bilge. Hey how about some pictures? :D <br /><br />Just my opinion. Take it with a grain of salt.
 
G

grandx

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 21, 2001
Messages
383
Re: Slowly Sinking

I have (2) ball scuppers, had a similair problem and thought this would be the answer (it wasn't) they are for sale if someone is interested. No scuppers I've seen will seal completely, they do allow less flow coming in Vs. going out, but are not water tight. Bottom line is.. scupper should not be below the water line, in calm flat water with a fully loaded boat the scupper should be above the water line, preferrably 1-2". A boat with scuppers below the water line is poorly desingned or has too much weight at stern. A better solution to adding weight to the bow would be to shift existing weight forward (removing from stern replacing toward bow) yet I would leave batteries near engine. Best of luck.
 
C

chrisandersen

Cadet
Joined
Nov 2, 2002
Messages
21
Re: Slowly Sinking

The one battery is near the bow. No other weight in the stern other than the big fat 75 Suzuki. I pumped it out this morning, and with no other gear on board, scuppers are 1/2" underwater.
 
M

mattttt25

Commander
Joined
Sep 29, 2002
Messages
2,661
Re: Slowly Sinking

gator- scuppers are not your problem. you have water somewhere, or your hull simply was not constructed properly. make, model, year, etc. of boat? how long have you had it?
 
W

wraenking

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
93
Re: Slowly Sinking

i had a problem with water, which almost sank my boat. do you hav a deck plate in the rear of your boat? the seal on my deck plate was completely gone. also, check to see that anything screwed into your boat is caulked? could help. good luck!!
 
Scoop

Scoop

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Jul 19, 2002
Messages
1,158
Re: Slowly Sinking

Gatorman, you can get a free website at <br /> http://www.fishingworks.com which will let you post your pictures.<br /><br />1. When you sign up for the site, click on the my photo album on the left hand side. <br />2. Click Add photo at the top.<br />3. Use the browse button to go to where your picture is stored on your computer.<br />4. Click on the picture file, then open.<br />5. Click on save this photo.<br />6. Click the small icon of your picture.<br />7. When the big picture comes up, right click on the picture and click properties.<br />Highlight the address of the picture. It should look like this. "http://www.fishingworks.com/Users/UserFolders/scoop/PhotoImages/LAKE.jpg"<br />8. Right click on the address and click copy. You are now ready to post here.<br />9. Open the posting window here.<br />10. Click the Image button, below the Add Reply button.<br />11. Right click in the white link area and click paste.<br />12. Click OK.<br />13. Add any text you want and click add Reply.<br /><br />Notes: <br />1. Make sure your pictures are not more than 2 subfolders deep on your computer or the Fishingworks site will put a % sign in the name and your picture will not show up.<br />2. You can use the Ctrl plus the C (Ctrl-C) key to copy anything instead of right clicking and then clicking Paste.<br />3. You can use the Ctrl plus the V (Ctrl-V)key to paste the text you copied.<br />These last tips work on Microsoft systems.
 
G

grandx

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 21, 2001
Messages
383
Re: Slowly Sinking

Did you buy the boat new? Was the Zuzi the original power? What is weight of Zuzi and what is the max HP rating of boat? Was scupper under water when you first bought it? You have unwanted weight somewhere, too much motor, or hull is poorly designed from the git go. Check for water saturated foam to start with. I know this is not what you want to hear, but it's not safe with scuppers below water line (slowly sinks). What happens when you lose power and stern faces the waves??? (sinks quickly).
 
rickdb1boat

rickdb1boat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jan 23, 2002
Messages
11,195
Re: Slowly Sinking

Gatorman, Here's the Pic's!<br /><br />
NOV02006.jpg
<br /><br />
NOV02008.jpg
 
C

chrisandersen

Cadet
Joined
Nov 2, 2002
Messages
21
Re: Slowly Sinking

If you can see it, I have stuck two corks in the scuppers. It has not gained any water since. There is a 3" conduit in the stern that all of the cables, fuel lines feed the center console. It sticks up about 3-4" . Once the water gets above that point, the bilge fills up.
 
T

trollhole

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 19, 2001
Messages
423
Re: Slowly Sinking

Man that engine looks big on that boat!<br />Could be your problem. Have you always had this problem. I would shift some weight toward the front just to see if it makes any difference. Like taking the batteries out and moving them up to the nose to just see what difference it makes. Does you boat have an upper and lower deck. The boat should be sitting level in the water and from the pictures it doesn't apear to be doing this. It's either the weight of that engine or you have some water in it that you haven't found. If this is not your case you need to find out how much weight you need to add to the front to make the scuppers come out of the water. :D How about a picture of the bilge?
 
B

blifsey

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jan 17, 2002
Messages
769
Re: Slowly Sinking

Here's a dumb question...Will adding weight to front really make rear float higher? My unexperienced guess is it would just make front sit lower. Seems like it should take shifting weight to make the rear come up some - at least for boat resting in the water.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top