old Renken Boat

[twinsburg]

I just bought an old 1970-60 model Renken 16 foot fiberglass boat. The ext. of the boat is in great condition, the inside is another story. It has been patched a few times and there is not a biliage pump for under the floor. There looks to be a hole in back of the boat where a pump line is to go. The owner befor had plugged the hole. I unplugged the hole last night and got a 30 gallons of water out. Do you think the water has damaged the boat under the floor, and should there be a pump for under the floor?

 

[twinsburg]

Re: old Renken Boat

does anyone have any thoughts on these issues?

 

[Dave Abrahamson]

Re: old Renken Boat

You unplugged the line and 30 gallons came out?<br />Was it below the water line? Sure it wasn't the drain plug?<br />I just don't get how a bilge pump line, that should be above the water line, could drain out by itself.

 

[blipship]

Re: old Renken Boat

Twinsburg,<br /><br />It sounds as though you are referring to the drain hole at the back of the boat in the transom. This is to allow water to drain out when the boat is out of the water. The plug should always be left out until you put the boat in the water at which time you definately want to put that plug back in. As far as damage to the floor and stringers, I would suggest looking for any soft spots in the floor. Also check under the hull by crawling under the boat and pushing on it with your thumb or the but of your hand and see if you have any soft spots there. That is just a start. What color was the water when it came out? If it was real dark it may mean the stringers are saturated. Others on this forum can suggest some other things to check. Good luck and welcome to the forum!

 

[twinsburg]

Re: old Renken Boat

The drain hole that I drained was not the drain hole that comes out of the ext. of the boat, it is actually in the floor across from the main boats drain hole. There is a small square collection area in the back of the boat, on both sides of the collection area there are two hole that are plugged. The one hole goes out of the boat the other goes under the floor. I am not sure if this is where a pump line would go. I am very new to boats, so sorry if I don't have the right terms for boat parts and area's of the boat.

 

[Solittle]

Re: old Renken Boat

A pump is the last thing you should be thinking about at this point. You need to find out if there is rot in the floor, tramsom & stringers. Go to the red search & key in rot to see other like posts.

 

[twinsburg]

Re: old Renken Boat

I bought this boat for $300, It has a strong 1956 30 hp Evinrude that started on the first pull with new gas, and great trailer. To see if I have rot, I need to rip up the floor?? Again, I am new boating. The floor seems very strong and no soft spots. It did sit out in cold Cleveland winters and I am sure the water became ice plenty of times. I only have $300 in this boat and really don't want to put much more. I am going to be using this for perch fishing and some walley fishing near shore on lake erie. But I want it to be safe.