How bad is this?

[JohnB]

I would make sure it had a full fuel load, and a couple of guys in it, then do the 5 gal bucket test . I don't see without a floatation bracket how you can put 900 pounds on the transom, 120 gals of gas in the tank, a couple of guys fishing off the back, and not have the floor in back be below the waterline. I could be wrong , let us know what you see/find out.

I would also want to know if the transom was "raised" or "replaced/raised". Without quite a bit of added engineering, and a replaced transom core, that is a lot of weight back there.

The only other thing you might keep in mind, is fuel burn. I don't know where your running to and from, but if your running more than 50 miles in a day, at 4 bucks a gallon (gas+oil), that thing is going to be expensive to run (200 bucks a day). I doubt your going to get much past 1-1.2 mpg with a pair of efi's, but it sure will be a rocket.

[kenm]

Thanks for all your help. JohnB, you were right, the floor is below the waterline and the water drains into the bilge. I am sold on the boat, It is very solid, rebuild was nicly done, but before I put my money down I want a solution. Doing research on this site I have found only one solution- Adding a flotation bracket. Looks like 3k for the bracket, longer cables- 4500total? Would it solve the problem?

The owner offered add a splashwell door like a 23' regulator- I am liking this idea. Would not be absolutly watertight, but would hold back most water if I took a wave over the low transom. What do you think?


I would like to buy this boat, but I dont want to put much money into fixing it up right away. Any suggestions would be appreciated! Ken

[JohnB]

Ken,
I was almost positive that floor would be lower than the waterline. I haven't seen a non-bracketed 23' with twin V-6's that didn't sit LOW on the back.

As for the splash well, I had something like that on my boat till I redid the transom. It would keep the flood out but it wasn't dry back there by any stretch.

With that said, I would make sure I had at least 2 bilge pumps on 2 different switches wired directlly to 2 different batteries, and a high water alarm. If the boat is going to spend most of it's life on a trailer, a lift, or dry storage, it's not such a big deal. If the boat is going to spend alot of time tied up to a dock, then I think you might really need to look hard at this.
Also, if it has an in floor live well, these have a habit of overfilling over the floor, and if your drain is into the bilge, instead of over the side, you can sink pretty fast.
As for your estimate on the bracket, I think your a little low unless your planning on doing it yourself. I think the only bracket I would use for something with that much weight would be the Hermco, and they aren't cheap. On a single engine rig, the DnD or Armstrong would probably be ok, but with that much weight, I don't see any other option.

Did you sea trial the boat? How was the balance under way, and how low did it sit at rest?

[kenm]

Thanks, It does have two bilge pumps set up like you said, most of the time it will be on a lift.
The boat felt good under way, at rest it was balanced well. I moved a person around and watched the scuppers, when he went to the bow, the waterline was about even with the scuppers. Fuel tank was 3/4 full, no ice, 3 people. We did hit 50 mph, around 5200 rpm (i think)