How to keep a 1976 20' MA from sinking at the dock

[Callipygian]

I tried a few searches without much luck. Obviously not self bailing so what do you do when you leave them in the water? Cover? Go down when it rains and bail it? Is there an easy fix? I also want to give a shout out to Big Shrimpin who did an awesome job on my transom this winter. We took off the jackplate which weighed in at 50 lbs and used a synthetic core to lighten up the back end. In the end the boat sits in the water without the plugging up the scuppers and comes onto plane without first going vertical. Not to mention it looks great too.

[bzeiher]

where to you keep your batteries? my 20 MA will sit without plugs in and drain correctly if no one is in the boat. I placed my batteries in the console to bring the weight forward.

Secondly, how big is your motor? is it a 4 stroke?

[Bigshrimpin]

Thanks Geoff - as 76seacraft suggested . . . Try pulling one of the floor scupper plugs while you are at the dock (and out of the boat). It might be self bailing w/o anyone on board. If not . . . . a few sand bags in the bow fishbox might lift the stern just enough. Then throw a few 5 gallon buckets of water on the deck and see if it drains properly.

[Callipygian]

Now thats a scary thought. I am not sure I could sleep at night with those plugs out but I will give it a try next time its in the water. My batteries are already forward on the floor of the console. Might try a five gallon bucket on the bow to add another 40 lbs forward. I do have a heavy 175 Suzuki 4 stroke on the back. Thanks for the suggestions.

[makade]

Two bilge pumps. Make sure that they are in good condition. I like the set-up of one little one down low - a 500gph for the normal stuff, than a bigger one up higher - as big as your budget and space will allow. If you have power for a battery maintainer you won't have to worry about dead battery's.

I am presuming your deck drains into the bilge somehow?

[eggsuckindog]

Two bilge pumps. Make sure that they are in good condition. I like the set-up of one little one down low - a 500gph for the normal stuff, than a bigger one up higher - as big as your budget and space will allow. If you have power for a battery maintainer you won't have to worry about dead battery's.

I am presuming your deck drains into the bilge somehow?

yep - 2 pumps, mine with 415 sits just fine even with 1 or 2 in the boat as long as everybody 2 and 4 footed doesn't want to stand in the back. Any wieght forward really helps but they do drain overboard and should always be left open, when at night or not attended.

[Callipygian]

I was planning on adding a second bilge pump. I am talking about the floor drains in the corners that drain out the bottom of the boat when its moving. None of them drain into the bilge. I have one drain hole in the center, just in front of splashwell, at floor level, that has been sealed up. Not sure if that originally drained into the bilge. EggSuckingDog - what do you mean by drains over the side and 415? Geoffrey

[RS]

Obviously not self bailing.... In the end the boat sits in the water without the plugging up the scuppers

Your description sounds like it is self bailing to me.

[Callipygian]

Roger - I was referring to the scuppers in the motor well. I used to have to plug them up because they were always under water, even sitting at the dock. I suspect that the 175 4 stroke is just too heavy but maybe some added weight up front will correct that problem. Won't be able to test that theory for a week or 2.

[eggsuckindog]

I was referring to the scuppers, they should always be open, the splashwell scuppers should have flappers on them, mine do and don't get much water at all. That being said water in the splashwell should NOT be an issue, that area should be sealed tighter than a...., any access hatches must be water tight back there. I think the majority of sinkings occur from not well sealed access hatches in the splashwell area, the self bailing scuppers in the boat have no access to the bilge or the boat would have to be half sunk already for it to find another avenue.