Getting Rid of Water on Deck of 18

Greno · #1 06-08-2010, 01:25 PM

Ok. I know I am not the only obsessive person about this. I have sealed all the hatches and splash well and replaced the splash well board (has cutouts to get water to the splashwell and eventually out), but when launching and getting back on the trailer I flood the deck and put the low stern under. I am thinking of sticking an auto bilge pump in the splash well to get the water off and I am thinking of opening the scuppers that drain to the bilge to get the water off deck and stay above the surface. The scuppers were filled by the PO. Do most folks keep the scuppers plugged? I put a large pie plate in the baitwell hatch and the boat pops right up when I pull the pie plate and run water into bilge. I put ping pong balls on the scuppers in the transom that drain the splash well. I don't think I am obsessing too much about this, but feel better that the bilge isn't constantly getting water in it now, but do realize that I can put the lowest point of the stern under water which ain't good either. This is a constant battle of no water in bilge vs. too much on deck. What have other folks with 18's and V6 engines done. I know everyone has the same low transom, at least on older hulls.

eggsuckindog · #2 06-08-2010, 04:22 PM

If the ramp has a steep angle that happens to me as well, nothing you can do about the ramp angle other than use another one.

Greno · #3 06-08-2010, 04:43 PM

It will flood backing down as well. It just annoys me more than anything.

uncleboo · #4 06-08-2010, 06:40 PM

My splashwell bulkhead was made with drainplug holes in it. I keep the plugs in unless the boat is out of water or underway. The back side of the splashwell goes under alot, but, doesn't give me any trouble as long as the plugs are in the front. I let the water from the deck run into the bilge and hit the bilge pump once in awhile to keep a check on it. So far, it has been manageable. Heading to the Outer Banks on the 18th for a week. I'll determine if I need to make any changes after that. Planning on going after some dolphin, weather permitting.

makade · #5 06-09-2010, 09:46 AM

I do the same thing with the drain plugs as UncleBoo. Here's some pictures of my setup. I have a piece of angle to stiffen the starboard on the bottom, otherwise I wouldn't have a good seal.

The only thing I don't like is its hard to rinse the trash out of the gutter along the back.

eggsuckindog · #6 06-11-2010, 12:53 PM

I'll take a pic of what somebody did on my transom in a bit - the put 5" pieces of starboard either side of the motor - mine are embedded into the top of the transom but you could do something simlar - I get very little water over the transom into the splahwell from waves anyway

Greno · #7 06-11-2010, 02:39 PM

I made a short splash board and hinged it to allow it to lay flat on the deck. I let the extreme ends open to allow the deck to drain out. I am thinking I made a mistake in not putting it flush to the sides on the bottom and putting plugs like you have done. A PO put some holes in the deck to drain into the bilge, but they have been filled with 5200. I am thinking of drilling those out and plugging/unplugging when needed and also putting an auto (float) pump in the splash well to empty when the ping pongs are closed and the well is full.