Bilge drain.

[navis]

I made a post in another thread about this, but did not get any replies so I decided I had batter make a thread of my own. The weather is finally sticking above 0 degrees so we are hoping to soon start the transom (finally!) on our 29' carter safari. I was wondering if it even makes sense to have the bilge drain and plug on a 29' boat that will probably be in the water for a couple years straight, maybe dry-docked occasionally. The bilge drain was one of the main centers of transom rot on the boat and I can not really see the point of having it, a couple bilge pumps will rid the boat of the water. We were thinking of just ignoring it when we install the new transom, then patch it up on the outside appropriately so it does not leak.
Thanks,
Brett

 

[Robert D]

Re: Bilge drain.

That's what I'm doing. Just another hole in the transom....I say skip it for the same reasons you stated.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Bilge drain.

I see no need for a bilge drain in a 29 foot boat that spends most of its time on the water. If it was stored every winter on land, it might be good to have in case rain, snow, ice, builds up and melts into the bilge then it would be an easy drain. If you are not faced with those conditions, I agree to leave it off.

 

[boat1010]

Re: Bilge drain.

When I first read this I said of course you need a bilge drain, but after reading the other threads I do agree. Think you are going in the right direction. Good luck on your project.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Bilge drain.

Technically it's a scupper on a boat over 21 feet. It may be required by the coast guard if the manufacturer stated that this is its intended purpose.
Since you're redoing the transom, it would be a great opportunity to plug that worthless scupper and install real check valve scuppers. If you can find a recent Everglade boat, take a look at how they do it. They claim to be able to clear a swamped boat in a matter of seconds.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Bilge drain.

Ayuh,.. I thought I knew what you guys were talking about til SSchefer posted....

My 35' Houseboat has a Garboard Plug...
Matter of Fact,...
I've Never, Ever seen a hull without a Drain.... Rubber stopper,.. pipeplug,.. Whatever..
Bilgepumps won't do squat in a mothballed hull...

Scuppers are just for draining a self-draining cockpit,... Above Decks...

If you're worried about the Rot,...
Just do a Better Job than the last guy......

 

[sschefer]

Re: Bilge drain.

Bondo said "Scuppers are just for draining a self-draining cockpit,... Above Decks..."

Yup.. that's what they are supposed to do alright. But... some builders have been getting away with calling a drain plug a scupper apparently. I don't have a clue if that's the case here or not. I always thought they were the plug you pulled when you washed out your bilges.

I did see it used once when I was fishing up in Alaska. The guide pulled the plug on the way in and let the water out that had accumlated from washovers, etc. In that case it was actually working as a scupper would except scuppers are normally vertical and piped to an overboard outlet where as the drain plug is the overboard outlet, (or inlet if you forget the plug).

 

[navis]

Re: Bilge drain.

Sorry, but I am not too sure what you guys mean. I do not understand how having a bilge drain serves a purpose to drain the boat while in the water? Unless you are in a little dingy, and can gun it and pull the plug out, effectivly draining the water, on larger boats I don't see that being possible?

 

[gypsysoul]

Re: Bilge drain.

navis, you are correct, when I swamp my jet boat i pull the rubber plug and run around until the bilge pump and whatever can run out through the plug finishes draing then throw the plug back in. you guys leaving your boat in the water are correct in the fact that it is just another place for water to get in. my safari on the other hand sits in my driveway most of the time, so i pull the plug when it is at home. that way while i am cleaning the water can run out of the engine bilge. of course the mid ship has to have a pump. mine dumps out to starboard. but back to yours it is pretty much a personel preferance as to what you guys do with it. yak at ya latter!

 

[sschefer]

Re: Bilge drain.

Sorry, but I am not too sure what you guys mean. I do not understand how having a bilge drain serves a purpose to drain the boat while in the water? Unless you are in a little dingy, and can gun it and pull the plug out, effectivly draining the water, on larger boats I don't see that being possible?

When you are on plane, your drain should be above the water line and the boats attitude will be bow up. If you pull the plug the water in the bilge should run out.. Of course, that's illegal in most states and within 50 miles off shore but that's how they are supposed to work.