---

I have a 1982 Revenge 25 Walk Around with a 5.7 liter MerCruiser sterndrive.

In the engine bay there is a threaded drain plug in the stern and one bilge pump placed below the motor. On both the port and starboard sides of the engine bay there are two smaller wells with thru hulls and plugs and also a stem in each bay that allows water to drain into the engine bay molded into the fiberglass. The well on the starboard side also houses a bilge pump.

What is the purpose of these two small wells? Why would the prior owner place one bilge in the starboard smaller well and one in the engine bay. I would like to see two bilge pumps in the engine bay, one fore and one aft, wired separately. Just yesterday I discovered that the lower half of the engine was sitting in the water (starter) as one of the pumps failed. Does not run, need to drain oil to investigate for water, outlook does not look good. Thanks for the help.

---

25 foot hull owners, do you keep the port and starboard wells open while in the water under power and on the morning for rain and water drainage? Please advise.

---

Craig,

I am not familiar with the sterndrive equipped 25s but I own a Revenge 25 Walk Through. All 25s have sumps in both the port and starboard stern corners. Because the Whaler is self bailing these may be left open to drain water but there will always be some water present in the sumps if the plugs are left out. If additional weight is present in the stern, the sumps may overflow into the rear fish well, which on your boat is, in fact, the engine compartment.

You do not want this to happen. I keep my sumps plugged at all times expect when out of the water. I have bilge pumps in each sump. The 25s were originally equipped by Whaler with a pump in the starboard sump but not the port sump. On my boat there is a cross over tube that is supposed to transfer water from the port sump the starboard sump after it fills up.

I recommend you equip both of your sumps with new bilge pumps as well as a new pump in the engine compartment. Sterndrive engines MUST be kept dry as you have discovered.