---

has anyone pulled the plug ? it would be neat to try and recreate one of whalers ads where they overload the boat and and try to sink it.. or not ?!

---

I pulled the plug on my 16 to get some rainwater out and ran 3 miles on plane to go out for dinner. Never remembered to replace the plug. Boat was beached at restaurant. Got lots more rain while we ate. Five of us boarded and were ankle deep in what I assumed was all the new rain water. Went to pull the plug and realized it was already on the console.

A company that had several rental Whaler about the same size would leave their boats in the water with plugs out during bad storms. They were not at risk of blowing about on land, and because they sat lower in the water were less likely to bang around in the slips. The area was not subjected to any surf like conditions.

---

I expect Whalers with below deck fuel tanks and especially the 160 Dauntless will take on a lot of water below decks and consequently flood the aft deck much more deeply than say a Montauk or Sport model. I would be surprised if the Dauntless didn't have water around the console particularly if the fuel tank was near full and one or more people were on the RPS.

It may be fun to try in fresh water but I'd give the test a pass in sea water due to the below decks wiring and hose clamps.

---

thank you mtown and davis, i was pleasntly surprised that someone didnt reply i was nuts. after the season of my dauntless in the ocean, i give it a rinse in the lake here and often thought of pulling the plug just to see and also rinse the whole inside. i may someday just to see how submerged it may get..will have to capture my own unsinkable picture

---

Bob,

I would love to see the photo. When I had a Dauntless 16 I was tempted but never had her in fresh water. Brackish was the best I could do and I didn't want it in the bilge.

---

I do not have a photo but I snagged a crab pot and the motor stalled. 22' 1979 Whaler Revenge low self bailing transom. Water up to the cuddy cabin (it did not go below deck). 3 scared guests with wet feet and my saying don't worry. Aft portion of the boat under water. I was more worried of the motor getting damaged than sinking. Fired up the motor after cutting the downrigger cable line. Dry deck in minutes. Very buoyant full of water.

---

Fun to speculate but I'd say it's one of those "Don't Try This at Home" deals. I don't believe the issue is whether the boat will float or sink. It should remain afloat due to positive buoyancy provided by the foam. To me the question is more will it remain upright or capsize? Overloading any boat will decrease stability making it prone to turn turtle. Having a boat go over presents a real risk of injury to the crew. Leaving the plugs out to drain rain is fine, trying to overload the boat is another matter.

---

My worry would be the expensive motor. just to see if. Now if I didn't have a motor on the transom I would do it in a heartbeat to see how it goes, but never with my good running motor installed.

---

If I was going to try it I would have a drain plug in hand and be prepared to go over the side to install it quickly. I would also choose to do it on a slow boating day. You don't want a big wake hitting your boat from the side with the gunnels half submerged. Just common sense stuff.

---

Butch, next spring I may pull the plug in the lake I am on- freshwater - just to watch..if I can get a photo, I wlll publish it for you. four thousand pounds of buoyancy on this 16 and a half foot boat should look good ! Im sure to cover the gas vent and take other precautions..disconnecting the bilge temporarily etc..

---

From 1986 Whaler spec chart.
Swamped capacity= total weight, persons, motor and gear boat will support if filled with water.

15' 1800#
17' 2000#
18' Outrage 3000#
20' 3000#
22' 5000#
25' 9000#
27' 10000#

Remember this is assuming the boat is swamped and full of water. That is a lot of flotation cause the water weight probably exceeds all those numbers easily.

---

For all of you wanting to try it would be easy to pull plug as you wade next to your boat in shallow water. Add people as you see fit. You will probably run out of people before the boat has gotten very low in the water.

A great feeling to know the boat will not sink. Just do not let it make younger kids careless. Sinking is not how most get hurt on small boats.

---

I've read a few articles with first hand reports about Whaler "swamping" which I take to mean filling with water. In every case it was reported that the engine power head remained above water. If the boat can be kept upright and if the engine can be started allowing the boat to power forward this has always resulted in forcing the water out over the transom and eventually through the scuppers. The bilge pump, if any is probably in play as soon as it's discharge outlet is above the water.

I suspect that boats with bilges and below deck fuel tanks will take on much more water and sink deeper than Sports and Montauks with virtually no bilges and smaller portable fuel tanks.

At least a Whalers flotation keeps the boat essentially level unlike all but a couple of other builders boats.

---

That is good to know that the power head stays above water, but I can't imagine swamping a boat up to the gunnels while upright and therefore doubt you can restart the engine and power forward.

Now maybe Boston-Whaler should take a small 15' or 17' model, roll it over, roll it back upright, start the engine and power forward until she's empty. Now that would be a great commercial for the 60 year anniversary as the sawed in half is old news.

Maybe Kempers Watersport in the Netherlands will do it like they did in 2013 with their sawed in half one.