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I'm 51 and have had boats my entire life. I own a 1987 Mako 191, 1999 G3 18, Alumaweld drift boat and today brought home a 1984 18 Outrage. The hull is a little beat and I afraid she's soaked below deck. I want to bring her back the best I can and fish the crap out of her. I'm 20 minutes from Bodega Bay in Northern California. Quick Q- why the hell didn't they build these boats with a drain plug and a below deck that you can access? This is how I found her, hadn't moved in over 4 years.

http://s209.photobucket.com/user/greg...u.jpg.html

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There is a drain plug. It is located in the sump that is in the rear starboard side. The sump is about 1 foot square and there should be a hinged wood cover over it. The drain plug fits into the tube from the inside of the sump, and the tube goes all the way through the hull to the bottom of the boat. A clamshell type cover is located over the exit of the tube on the bottom of the boat, and it can get plugged easily if you allow too much debris to pass through the drain tube at once.

Congratulations on your new boat, and happy whalerin' :)

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Silentpardner, do you plug this drain when you take your Outrage 18 on the water? I've seen a guy with the same boat & he just uses the boat unplugged.

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Flounder - I run without plugs unless I have a bunch of people on the boat.

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The below deck area is just the fuel tank. It can be accessed, but is a major job. There is very little space for any large quantities of water to collect in this space, except for soaking into the foam that secures the tank in place. It is actually a very good, well proven design.

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You can plug the drain or leave the plug out. You only asked why it didn't have a drain, I was simply pointing out that the boat does have a drain and a plug.

I run my sump drain plugged. If any debris gets in the sump, I can get it out before I drain the sump through the clamshell outlet under the boat this way. I have never plugged the drain tube, but I have plugged the clamshell outlet, and it is impossible to rod trash straight out through the clamshell opening at the outlet. It is a major pain if a plastic bag or leaves get to the clamshell.

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SJ, where by Bodega Bay? I am in Occidental (15 minutes from Bodega Bay). Congrats with your purchase. Feel free to contact me (email in personal page) if you would like to hook up. I have a 1979 22ft Revenge .
Garris