Scuppers under the water line?
 

Just test drove an 89 20" SeaCraft (tracker?)
Water came in the scuppers when we were at the
Dock. Drained when the boat was pulled on trailer but
What if we are planning on mooring? Will it drain and
What about rainwater draining? Also 2 soft spots
Next to where the seat was. Nothing is there now they
Are mounting a leaning post for us. Thoughts?

Run

Do the scuppers drain straight down through the hull or out the transom? What size and weight motor is mounted? Heavy motors often cause the scuppers to ship water at rest, especially if someone is standing in the boat. Remember that the 20' SeaCraft was designed to have a motor of UNDER 300 lbs max weight.
Do the bilge pumps come on? Resealing the scuppers is a relatively easy task. Soft spots in the deck are manageable as well, if the price is right.

It has a 150hp Johnson and there is a steel plate
On the transom. Not sure why? Scuppers drain out the
Transom and both are underwater line at dock with no one onboard
I did not hear
The bildge pumps come on? $7500 there are a bunch
Of pics on my other thread under my name 89 20" SeaCraft so you
Can see it and the transom plate.

Mind add just sbove thebwater just. With a johnson 150 of course if im in the back water will come in but not with nobody in the boat.

An '89 would be a Tracker model that I'm not too familiar with. Do the scuppers run out thru the transom or are they the Potter style vertical type that go straight down through the hull? The Rabud ping pong ball check valves work pretty well on the transom-style drains.

That's a pretty common problem with the vertical scuppers if the motor is too heavy. Most folks don't realize how efficient the VDH hull is compared to the average deep-V, so they install motors much bigger than necessary. Carl Moesly designed the 19/20' hulls in the mid-60's when the biggest outboards (100-150 hp I-6 Merc's and V-4 OMC's) weighed about 260-300 lbs, and they're easily self bailing with those motors.

If you hang a late model V-6 2-stroke of 400+ lbs. on 'em however, you can expect to get wet feet. The 4-strokes are even worse at 450-500 lbs for the 150 hp and larger motors. It gets even worse if you install a bracket without a big flotation tank and move the motor back 30"! Moving the console, batteries and gas tank forward helps. The early Black Max V-6 Mercs aren't too bad at less than 350 lbs and the 60 degree OMC V-6's are about 375 lbs. Most folks just run with the plugs in most of the time. My Seafari is less stern heavy than the CC models, so my deck is about 1/2 to 1" above at the dock with no one aboard and it drains washdown and rainwater, etc., but I wouldn't be comfortable leaving it on a mooring. My 150 E-Tec weighs about 430 lbs and is on a 30" setback Hermco bracket, which has the most flotation of any commercially available bracket. CSC forum member Fellowship invented a clever check valve using PVC fittings, O-rings and rubber glove fingers that fits into the vertical scuppers that works reasonably well. Use the search function to look for a thread on the "Vortex scupper plugs". I use them when diving to keep excess water off the deck when it's already wet anyway.

PS. Just saw your last post. That steel plate on the transom is a red flag . . . it might be a band-aid for a soft transom!

Thank you. The scuppers are in the transom (they are
In the lower back corners of the boat). I think I may need to
Hire a surveyor if we are serious about this boat?

get a surveyor to look at it, if has soft spots in the floor and a bad transom its not worth anything near what they are asking.

The weight of a waterlogged transom or floor in the back could easily pull the the waterline down where there could be a problem like you described. Imho, don't fall in love with it if you have to reach on price. Like many have said the metal plates are put on as a crutch 99.99% of the time.

run like you stole something

my scuppers will bring water in, they are thru the hull but they do, quite a bit. They won't with nobody in the boat but the amount of fuel has a bearing as well. The transom scuppers should be helped with the ball scuppers Bushwhacker mentioned and should about eliminate it. Not sure on the weight of the 150 but my Merc comes in at 410/415 but it should be similar, anything over 1/2 tank of fuel makes a difference as does the baitwell but mine is a Master Angler with it at the transom too. I keep plugs in them most of the time, especially if I have 3/4 tank with 2 of us wandering around back there they are little geysers.

I have the recessed well back there and have the plug out to drain into the bilge, if 1 or 2 of us stand back there any length of time it will drain some in and kick my pumps on but thats fine - I know they are working, I like that.

I think most boats of any age get soft spots around the seats and/or console - I fixed a couple small areas drilling 1/4" holes and using Git Rot, doesn't sound like their too bad but need a bit of attention

If you guys are comparing 23's its a whole nuther world, we have the same weight with V6's as you do

If you are standing there looking at them they will let water in - standing on the dock looking at them ?? MIne will drain with nobody in the boat no problem, my splashwell drains have flappers and get really no water in there - hence my comment earlier about Bush's idea of ping pong ball scuppers - they would be needed. it should drain no problem with nobody in the boat as somebody else mentioned also.

Putting it on a trailer - as soon as it contacts the trailer you are pushing the stern down, the further up it goes the further the transom is pushed down - steeper the ramp worse it is. On a very low tide at one steep ramp I go to I can get water coming over the transom when its cranked up all the way. Most ramps and most tides that doesn't happen but it should would be pouring in the scuppers - not a good indicator

Hey all, Im new to the forum and in the process of restoring a 20SF of the 1974 vintage. It this point the transom has been raised to 25" and i just had ping pong style scuppers installed into the deck where the old vertical scuppers were. I'm trying to decide on the best location for the new stainless thru hulls on the back? There is not much angle for water to self drain if i put them right on the water line...is it completely wrong to put them below water? My obvious main concern is that the boat will self bail at rest with nobody around..if it monsoons. Any ideas would be great! Thanks!