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Mooring in Rough Water
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| jrohan01 |
Posted on 05/27/15 - 8:16 AM
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Joined: 05/13/14
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I own a 1984 17 Montauk with a 90hp Mercury motor. I moor it near a ferry terminal which can get fairly rough at times due to the boat traffic. It stays there all week and I use it primarily on the weekends. I use an automatic bilge at the stern by the motor. I have now used 3 different automatic bilge pumps and all three have had similar issues. They will keep running until either the battery is dead or they blow a fuse. They are not screwed or glued down so maybe that's the issue? I'm thinking it may have something to do with where I moor the boat, but any ideas?
As you can imagine, it's become a normal occurrence where I come to the boat and there's a few inches of water in it, even in the battery box which is in the center console due to all the rocking around with a few inches of water.
Any advice on bilge placement or tips for mooring in fairly rough conditions will be appreciated.
Thanks!!
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| joz |
Posted on 05/27/15 - 8:21 AM
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The key for my success with any bilge I've used is to make sure it stays upright. The whole bilge pump itself will float if the water gets too high, so if it ends up on it's side after it clears the water, the flap stays in the up position, keeping the pump on and draining the battery. If you can secure the pump so that it stays upright, you may have more success. I also dump a little dove dish detergent in the impeller housing from time to time, and it seems to prevent sticking of the flap in the up position. Hope this helps a little.
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| JRP |
Posted on 05/27/15 - 8:27 AM
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Posts: 755
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Joined: 08/29/14
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Your bilge pump and float switch should both be secured in place.
In your situation, I would have a snug mooring cover for the boat to prevent rain and wave slosh from getting inside in the first place.
19 Outrage II (1992) |
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| jrohan01 |
Posted on 05/27/15 - 9:29 AM
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Thanks...I'll definitely try your suggestions.
In terms of mooring covers, do you know of any cheaper effective options other then Mills?
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| JRP |
Posted on 05/27/15 - 10:00 AM
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Posts: 755
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I have no personal experience with purchasing mooring covers, but these two suggestions were recently made in another thread:
Berger wrote:
I just bought one off ebay from a company called canvas-company out of detroit. Very nice fit and finish and very tight. The material is SunDura,(very similar to Sunbrella) and should last a long time. At $225.00 delivered it was a smoking deal.
19 Outrage II (1992) |
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| tom blinstrub |
Posted on 05/28/15 - 2:27 AM
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Have you tried the Rule pump that has no float switch? It briefly comes on every 2-3 minutes and shuts down if there is no water. I have had great luck with them and I don't screw them down. I have had them on my last 4 boats.
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| gchuba |
Posted on 05/28/15 - 6:35 AM
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You may want a rubber "check" valve on the discharge side. I found that bilge pumps would keep recycling from the water left in the discharge hose emptying back into the boat once the bilge motor stopped. Just enough to activate the float switch.
Garris
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| butchdavis |
Posted on 05/28/15 - 6:59 AM
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Have you considered pulling the drain plug? Depending on how high your Montauk floats it may take on very little water due to the hull buoyancy.
A friend leaves his Sport 13 in the water with the plug removed and sees only a few inches of water in the hull. When he goes out he leaves the plug removed until getting on plane for a couple of minutes which drains the hull. He then replaces the plug until mooring the boat again. If he has guests he picks them up ater installing the plug.
Butch |
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