To much rain and to low schppers = almost sank at my slip

[BugsBunnyBoater]

Two week ago after the heavy rains I get a call from the yacht the coast guard noticed by boat was about to go under. ( thanks Terry From the Beaumont Yacht club ) for being a good friend to somebody you dont know. He heard what was happening got on the boat restarted my bilge pump and here is what caused the problem. The water on the deck did not drain into the bilge to get pumped out. The suppers were so low that the deck would not self bail.
The guys told be what he did was open a deck plate and let the deck water drain into the bilge and get pumped out...


So I guess a deck that has all holes to the bilge filled is not to good.

 

[JoLin]

Re: To much rain and to low schppers = almost sank at my slip

That was a close one. Glad somebody took the initiative to save your boat.

Consider though what might happen after the bilge pump discharges your battery...

An unattended boat that doesn't self bail (like mine and yours) should be covered.

My .02

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: To much rain and to low schppers = almost sank at my slip

What happened???? he had to "restart" your bilge pump....but at the same time your scuppers are too low and didnt self bail....does the boat self bail or does it drain into the bilge to be pumped out by the pump....and it sounds like your saying your deck scuppers were clogged.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: To much rain and to low schppers = almost sank at my slip

something doesn't add up. However I have seen downpours that overwhelm systems.

1. scuppers below the waterline still drain if the boat has floatation. If the deck water is not draining into the bilge, the empty bilge provides some flotation.
2. Bilge pumps don't need to be "restarted."
3. Are you sure your scuppers are designed to self-bail your boat while moored, or do you drain into the bilge to be pumped?

I suspect your deck drain/scupper was clogged, or your bilge pump/float switch failed.

I have a boat that does not self-bail; the deck drains into the bilge (2 1/2" grate on the deck) and the bilge pump takes it from there. True, the boat is at the mercy of the battery and bilge pump functioning, but it also has positive floatation to give some extra protection from catastrophe, and its moored at the house. If the deck grate was clogged (say covered by a plastic bag) it would then drain to the well in the stern under the splash well.

Talk to some experienced boaters at your marina about your set-up and how to fail-safe it.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: To much rain and to low schppers = almost sank at my slip

Just my thoughts:

The bilge pump is on a float switch and the float switch was stuck in the open position due to either a clog or just dirt on the pins

The bilge filled with water, allowing the boat to sink in the rear where the scuppers were level with/below the water line.

Friendly neighborhood dock master removed the deck plate and freed up the float switch, allowing the boat to empty and refloat. Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

Most boats (that I've seen, anyway) that have scuppers above the water line don't have decks that drain to the bilge. This is the design that allows water to be washed over the bow/sides to drain out the back without filling the bilge and taxing the bilge pump. I've had 3 boats with scuppers and they were all designed this way.

Maybe the best fix is to replace the vented deck plate with a solid one, which would keep the water (and leaves/debris) out of bilge. This would assure that the water went overboard through the scuppers. I have never seen a rainstorm...and I've been in a TON of them...that will overload (2) 1 1/2" scuppers.

But then again...maybe I'm wrong...

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: To much rain and to low scuppers = almost sank at my slip

Re: To much rain and to low scuppers = almost sank at my slip

during Spring cleaning I discovered my deck scuppers clogged- one side had a rotten half pack of cigarettes and the other a plastic water bottle cap and leaves- - they are not visible unless you remove the folding rear seat.
word to the wise- clean them out once and awhile.

 

[BugsBunnyBoater]

Re: To much rain and to low schppers = almost sank at my slip

Ok here is what happened. My mako is one of those boats that was made with out a bilge pump so I added one. Om a good day my scuppers sit just above the water when you get the go under but drain great while under way.
it seems as it rained water went into the bilge and stayed on the deck as the deck got heavier the scuppers went under.
I assume the pump emptied the bilge but the water on deck did not flow into the bilge no holes in the deck to drain it.
The guy who saved my boat said he opened the pic over in the deck and the water ran into the bilge and was pumped out.

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: To much rain and to low schppers = almost sank at my slip

Ah got it now.....I can see that happening on my boat very easily as well. Even in my driveway in a heavy storm with slightest little obstruction in my scuppers I can get 3" of water in the back built up before it finally drains (of course its tilted)

 

[wellsc1]

Re: To much rain and to low schppers = almost sank at my slip

There's a lot to say about bilge pumps.

- Back up a bilge pump with another bilge pump. Make the backp-up a larger size, given if your primary is overwhelmed by incoming water the back-up has a larger job to do.

- Wire it to the battery directly. Take all other points of failure out of the realm of possibilities.

- Keep your float switch clear of obstruction.

- etc.

imho

 

[DianneB]

Re: To much rain and to low schppers = almost sank at my slip

- Wire it to the battery directly.

Through a fuse of course! Look at the current rating of the pump (in Amperes) and select a fuse that is at least 3 times larger amperage - 5 times is better. You don't want the fuse to blow but it is better the fuse blow than the pump motor or wiring catch fire.

 

[Philster]

Re: To much rain and to low schppers = almost sank at my slip

Most of the sinkings (in slip) that I see are center consoles that are hard to cover. The pumps fail when scuppers and/or fittings don't come through.

Most wind up capsized.

All the surveyors/insurance agents I see love to ramble on about scuppers,deck heights and fittings. I swear, they live for this crap.

Lesson: If you can cover the boat, do so. Center Console guys: Check the bits and pieces that drain your boat.

Latest CC sinking (capsizing) in slip was my friend's 26 CC Fountain. Fittings went bad. Pump overwhelmed.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: To much rain and to low schppers = almost sank at my slip

I'm surprised Mako doesn't include a bilge pump. They used to be known as quality boats. That's what you'd expect of a Bayliner. IMO all boats with closed hulls should be equipped with a bilge pump and float switch.

Scuppers will drain even if they are underwater; the water inside and out reaches equilbrium. Problems occur with defective or inadequate scuppers that retain a volume of water. My Sea Hunt has two 2" straight pipe scuppers, but they have the rubber flap on the outside as a "check valve." I think they are too stiff and impede the flow when there's not much pressure (such as when you are running it out). same occurs with a flapped scupper under water--not enough pressure pushing out v. neutral pressure pushing in, allowing a build-up inside to a dangerous level. It would be nice if there was a convenient way to prop open the flaps when moored.

 

[Philster]

Re: To much rain and to low schppers = almost sank at my slip

You want good scupper conversation? Find a boat sunk in dock and get close to the insurance rep (marine surveyor). I'm telling you, you'll get all the scupper convo you can handle! It's like crack to them.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: To much rain and to low schppers = almost sank at my slip

I'm surprised Mako doesn't include a bilge pump. They used to be known as quality boats. That's what you'd expect of a Bayliner.

They sell Mako's at BassPro. I rest my case

 

[Fireman431]

Re: To much rain and to low schppers = almost sank at my slip

They used to be known as quality boats. That's what you'd expect of a Bayliner.

That may be true up until the late 80's or early 90's. After (approx) '94, Bayliner really got their act together when the began building boats to NMMA standards.

Unfortunately, a lot of people couldn't get past their history. Think of Harley Davidson in the 70's when they were owned by AMF. Same story. Maybe it just takes a while to get rid of the generations that bought the junk boats and they have to appeal to a whole new generation...

 

[BugsBunnyBoater]

Re: To much rain and to low schppers = almost sank at my slip

If you look at some of the older Mako boats you will see they did not come with bilge pumps. My 19 foot is one, What a lot of people do is add a pump and have the hose set up to discharge over the transom.

 

[dingbat]

Re: To much rain and to low schppers = almost sank at my slip

That may be true up until the late 80's or early 90's. After (approx) '94, Bayliner really got their act together when the began building boats to NMMA standards.

Unfortunately, a lot of people couldn't get past their history. Think of Harley Davidson in the 70's when they were owned by AMF. Same story. Maybe it just takes a while to get rid of the generations that bought the junk boats and they have to appeal to a whole new generation...

Building to a standard is a min. requirement.

My best friend went against my recommendation and bought a new 21' Trophy back in 2005. Three years later, the rub rail was falling off, the bow rail was loose and things where falling and breaking off the boat left and right. The components where cheape and I can't say much better about the construction. Maybe a good starter boat, but certainly not a quality boat by any stretch.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: To much rain and to low schppers = almost sank at my slip

Building to a standard is a min. requirement.

My best friend went against my recommendation and bought a new 21' Trophy back in 2005. Three years later, the rub rail was falling off, the bow rail was loose and things where falling and breaking off the boat left and right. The components where cheape and I can't say much better about the construction. Maybe a good starter boat, but certainly not a quality boat by any stretch.

I guess it can happen with anything. I had a Bayliner Trophy walk-around cuddy (1996) with a Merc 150 and it was a great boat. Only issue I ever had with it was a bad battery and you certainly can't blame the manufacturer for that. the boat was solid, ran 49 MPH, and took me 20+ miles off shore many, many times without a minute of wondering if I would have problems.

On the other hand, 2 years ago my brother bought a brand new 30' Rinker and has only just hit 100 hours on it because it spends so much dead on the lift, waiting for serious maintenance. Big things, like the drive shafts and bellows, water pumps, high pressure fuel system components (etc.)

I guess with anything, there can be good and bad and that's why maintenance is the key on a used vessel.

 

[onwaves]

Re: To much rain and to low schppers = almost sank at my slip

Got a 2006 Trophy CC. Never have problems. Deck drains fine and bilge is always dry. When away from the slip at the marina I just make sure to close the sea **** for the washdown/baitwell intake.

Now the Boston Whaler I use at work is a different story. Not self draining and the tiny area in the floor for the bilge pump barely fits the pump. Switch is always sticking.

 

[jonesg]

Re: To much rain and to low schppers = almost sank at my slip

Through a fuse of course! Look at the current rating of the pump (in Amperes) and select a fuse that is at least 3 times larger amperage - 5 times is better. You don't want the fuse to blow but it is better the fuse blow than the pump motor or wiring catch fire.

Wire backup pump direct to battery.
There is no insurance history of bilge pump fires. Thats a fact.
Backup pump should be mounted higher up in the bilge so the auto switch doesn't flick on and off due to water splashing back and forth.