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EDITED
Hi,

I have a 1971 17' Custom and every time it is in the water and it rains really hard it fills with rain. I have a hand-held bilge pump to bail it but after a big storm that takes forever.

This morning, after a storm that has been going on for several hours, the low part of the transom (where the motor attaches) was only about an inch above the water. I had the drain plug in.

I took the boat out and drained it at speed and came back and pulled the plug at the dock. I have been watching it and the water level is slowly creeping up. We're only about 3 inches from the low part of the transom again. It has been slowly (but steadily) rising for an hour.

Is there something else I can be doing?

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Insert the plug in the sump drain tube. Make sure to tighten it after insertion.

Is there a battery in the stern with the fuel tank?

Where is the static water line (boat empty at dock) on the outside of the transom in relation to the splashwell drains? At, above or below the splashwell drains.

Note all Boston Whalers are self bailing and not self draining.

With the sump drain open, the water level inside will come in untill it reaches the same level as outside the boat. Once there it will not increase. If you add water to the boat it will drain out.

Some boats only have the sump fill. Others have the water level rise more and water is on the deck. This is not a problem as it is how the boats are designed.

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Thank you Phil T.

The photos that I upload here don't seem to post so I have put them on my website here:
https://thetrinitymission.org/photos-...for-stuff/

I'm a newbie to all this. Gonna do my best to reply to what you have written below.


To verify then, the best practice is to leave the plug in and let the boat fill with water?


I have moved the batter to underneath the center console. I have 3 - 6gal portable tanks. Two fit under the console with the battery (it is an open area). And I move the other one around as needed.


The last photo is the normal water line. The splashwell drain sits right at the water line, above or below depending on how it's loaded.


What is the difference here?


1) So should I leave the plug out during a downpour?
2) It seems like the water levels will not match until water is coming over the transom. Is that to be expected?


To verify, that means that over half the deck of my boat will be underwater. Is that correct?

Thanks again for your (or anyone else's) help.

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The sump is the area where the cables exit the rigging tunnel.

Self draining means all the water will exit. There are no models I am aware of offer this feature.

Self bailing is what I described.

Remove the plug at the dock, let fill with water and then take some photos. Note where the water level sits.

Post a link.

Every boat is different. Most older models have water on the deck a few inches forward of the sump opening. This is normal.

Remove the plug when you leave the boat for a long period of time.

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I did this yesterday afternoon. I don't have pictures. But the outside water was within an inch from coming over the transom when I put the plug back in and drained it. It's water coming over the top of the transom that scares me. Is that supposed to happen?





When I pulled the plug, water covered over half the deck after a couple hours. All the way to mid-boat. The stern had about 12-14" (almost to the top of the transom).

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If you were out of the boat when this was done, it is very discouraging news.

You will need to keep the plug installed and add a bilge pump. A solar trickle charger/maintainer is also recommended.

I would still like to see photos.

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Alright Phil T, here are the photos:
https://thetrinitymission.org/photos-...for-stuff/

I put comments next to each photo.

Thanks again for your help.

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Now I see the contributing factors.

You have a stern platform. How much does that weigh?

You also have a setback bracket. That is added weight and the engine weight is farther back.

Now that I see the photos, the results are understandable.

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What size is that motor and how much does it weigh?

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Joe,

It is a 1986 Johnson 110. What I have found online is that it weighs 306 lbs.

Phil T,

The platform probably weighs about 40lbs.

I am often running through water that is less than 2' deep down here (Texas Laguna Madre). It was my understanding that setting back the motor allowed it to ride higher in the water (I forget the calculation now, but it seems that the 10" setback allowed either a 2" or a 4" higher prop). I usually use the jack-plate and lift it until I feel the boat is at a good combo of speed and handling for the number of passengers/load that I am carrying.

But maybe the weight redistribution is too much???

I certainly ask a lot of my little boat: flats fishing, snorkeling, tubing, skiing.