Re: cockpit scuppers 20 SF20
I have been asked to explain how my SF 20 sank 4 times over the years.
Sinking 1. While lifting on davits, the relatively new rear cable broke and the stern went completely in submerging the engine. Remedy - I changed to stainless steel cables.
Sinking 2. Sabotage. I am a developer and I kept the boat at a dock one evening at one of my condominium projects. Someone pulled the plug and the boat completely submerged. The owners' complaint was that I did not provide enough dockspace for the condominium. Remedy - I didn't add any dockspace; however, I never left the boat there again.
Sinnking 3 - While fishing in the Gulf and backing down on a fish in a moderate sea, three of the "crew" decided to quickly run to the stern to get a better look at the fish at which time the transom went below the water and a sea entered and instead of the scuppers acting as a "self bailing" feature, they became a "self sinking" feature. There just was no tolerance for this weight in the stern of the SeaCraft. It all happened amazingly quick. Even though all body weight was transfered forward immediately, there was so much water taken on that the bilge pump was of no value, salt water immediately got into the carbs of the engine, and we sank. Floatation made it sink SLOWLY though. Remedy - I am now a flats fisherman and own an HPX Maverick Mirage (draws 5 inched - can't sink in 5 inches of water).
Sinking 4 - Recently I was on Safari in Botswanna. I invited my guide to the States. Amongst many adventures, I wanted to take him out to our barrier islands (Captiva and Cayo Costa). We used the SeaCraft. The day was windy and the seas at about 2 to 3 feet. Plan was to anchor just off the beach and swim in. The guide, who I looked up to as my "Crocodile Dundee" type friend, could do about anything inthe wild but, as I learned, could not swim (understandabel living in Botswanna). Therefore, after anchoring off the bow, I reversed the engine to get the stern closer to the beach and to enable me to take a 100 foot line and tie the stern off to a tree way up on the beach. This allowed for easier access from the boat to beach. About an hour later, we took a walk up the desolated beach and during that time the wind shifted creating a different wave angle to the boat. Upon our return trip up the beach, I saw the flotsom (cushions, towels, etc) floating in the sea and they looked familiar. Sure enough, by the time we got to the boat, she was completely down and in the surf. Once again, water came over the transom. Boat US and Sea Tow were called. They declared the vessel "salvage", got a pump aboard, and towed it to sea. $ 3,200 later, they had her to a boat ramp where we hauled her and took her back to the ranch. Remedy - I let her sit on that trailer for two years as punishment (actually, I deserved some of the punishment for my stupidity for I know how dangerous the transom design design is).
After all that I went out to by a new SeaCraft. Couldn't do it. Guess my old SF20 has been too much a part of me for 30 years - been too many places together, she helped me raise my kid, just too many good times in the past. So now she is being completely reconstructed as I have mentioned before. However, she now will have a 5 INCH HIGHER TRANSOM WITH A SPLASH WELL AND A NEW SCUPPER DESIGN.
By the way, her name is "SPIRIT OF AMERICA" and like her name, she is strong and enduring. She's worth taking care of.
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