raising the floor to make it self bail

[Dershman]

The floor in my '69 LArson 16' is sponge. i'm planning on cutting it out this winter and rebuilding it above the water line so the boat will self bail thru scuppers. Any thoughts, experiences, plans, ideas.....thanks<br />Dave of the Wewiantic<br />Wareham, MA

 

[tmac58star]

Re: raising the floor to make it self bail

The slope/drop should be 1/4 inch per foot of floor run, from bow to stern.

 

[Dershman]

Re: raising the floor to make it self bail

Timster<br />In what hull position do I figure the slope. when sitting at idle or at wot?

 

[JasonJ]

Re: raising the floor to make it self bail

Odds are that the boat will sit low in the stern anyway, you shouldn't need to get too worried about slope angles and all that. Also, you will have a different waterline after your rebuild anyway due to getting rid of all that water soaked weight.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: raising the floor to make it self bail

Any boat with scuppers is self-baling at speed unless the water gets trapped before the bilge. So if you want it self-bailing at idle, then figure the slope of the new floor at idle position/waterline.

 

[jomac]

Re: raising the floor to make it self bail

Jason J & tim Mc are right motor weight of any OB/IO will take of the slope for you. Most self-bailers are designed to drain though there bailers sitting still(docked & empty), few words of caution though some older narrow beam boats can become real unstable when you raise the floor(center of gravity) high enough to be a true self-bailer, BE careful and Good Luck

 

[Dershman]

Re: raising the floor to make it self bail

Thanks all. I thought I'd have started by now but its still warm enough to fish here, Cape Cod, occaisionally ( it's 55 today). I try and post the project whenever I stop fishin.