Sunk boat - on land

[SWTobias]

Well, I did it this time. I put the boat in the backyard after our last outing. Cleaned the boat, flushed the engine, put the battery tender on and then the full cockpit canvas cover. I DIDN’T take the plug out and honestly don’t know why not. I’ve had the boat 30 years and have never left the plug in while stored.

Anyway, we had several days of heavy rain and when I went to check on the boat I was shocked to find it filled with water like a bathtub. I DO have a bilge pump that was working (I check it every time I take the boat out). But apparently did not work at all this time. The water was half way over the engine, batteries were submerged as was starter motor. I guess I should be glad I wasn’t 20 miles out or I’d probably be dead.

I had just sunk $7,000.00 in this boat early this year and was thinking of selling it. My question now is should I even attempt to salvage it or just try to find a way to get rid of it? On that subject, just exactly how do you go about getting rid of an old derelict boat?

 

[alldodge]

Change up

water was half way over the engine

As in over the top of the carb

This is different then thinking it was just over the starter and bats.

If you don't think its salvageable, haul it to the dump and pay the 50 to 200 and just dump it. Can always remove the drive and sell.

 

[Texasmark]

Part out the usable parts including the trailer if amount of sale would cover some means to get the hulk to the dump, pay the fee, and have a reasonable return on the sale. Agree on outdrive which will bring you a couple of k at least, and other parts you just installed. Don't forget the instruments. Go to Craigs list boats, find the parts section and sell there. Or check out selling on ebay.

Butttttt you need to assess the damage immediately, especially as to the engine. Flooded engines are salvageable if caught early.....google how to recover a flooded engine. The starter can be dried out. Engine internals can be flushed, lubed, and returned to operational status. Rain water should be pretty clean and your least worry for intrusion.

Batteries may or may not even know they were submerged if the water is pure and no electrical wires shorted out externally,

Get them out, dried off and on a charger. Fuel should be ok!

 

[Sprig]

Did water get into the engine or not? Did it get into the fuel tank? If the answer to both is no then its probably easily salvageable. Was any other damage done?
If you just put $7000 into the boat you must like the boat and planned to keep it for awhile. What exactly makes you think it’s not salvageable?

 

[Ned L]

Pretty much what Sprig said,............ The engine was not running, .... So, no damage there. Did water get in the dipstick hole? What does the dipstick look like? If the oil level has not changed then nothing to worry about, if it is up a bit higher then there is water on the bottom of the oil pan. either way, a good idea to change the oil, try to suck from the bottom of the pan to see if any water comes up.
The starter really won't care about a fresh water dunk -IF- it is addressed within a day or so of coming out of the water. It is not so much the time under water that does damage, it is the time that it is sitting out in the air afterwards. If the water in the bilge was all just clean rain water then just put the starter in the kitchen oven at about 200deg for a couple of hours, then lubricate the bendix drive and it should be fine. (if you want to get fancy you can take it apart and oil the bearings a bit.
Batteries, ...... they are a "maybe".
Electrical connections, ... they should be fine with only fresh water.

All in all, a weekend's worth of light work and you should be back out on the water.

 

[froggy1150]

Also if you caught it quick and address it quick and start it quick .....
before starting pull plugs and crank it with a little oil in cylinders to make sure you are not hydrolocked .... that would be bad..... the oil will protect cylinder walls til it fires and once running seafoam the motor to help lube valves. Don't let the internals rust