V156 Secret Rubber Plugs in the Sump...?

[ShapeShifter]

I just got finished re-powering a 1975 V156. The boat is clean and solid, or I would not have bothered with the re-power.

We had it out tubing the other day with two dripping kids in and out of the boat. Also took on some "flume ride" type wakes over the bow. When I pulled the boat out of the water and opened the transom plug, no water came out. "That's kinda funny" I thought and went along my merry way.

Tonight I found the owners manual for the boat online and read a small blurb about two rubber plugs in the sump that need to be removed occasionally. Occasionally!!?? It also said to replace them after draining. Eh? I had no idea these plugs were there, and the previous owner did not tell me about them either. There is no other reference to them and my googling has found nothing. I uncorked them and found about 1.5 or 2 gallons of brownish water came pouring out . Great.....

I thought that this water might come from under the seats in the bow from when we took that wake......no, those compartments do not drain. Does the water come from the anchor locker in the bow? I cant see a drain hole in there either.

My deck and transom seem pretty solid, hell, I just drilled new holes in the transom for the re-power and the lower holes showed no signs of water intrusion. Has this 2 gallons of water been in there for 20 years, slowly soaking my stringers, or did it come from my weekend of boating?

Anyone know about these secret bungs in the sump of a V156?

 

[tunerauto]

Re: V156 Secret Rubber Plugs in the Sump...?

my 72 v153 has em and when I bought the boat , it had been sitting uncovered outside for 5 years, I heard sloshing of water in the bow when I got home from trailering it.
Reached down and unplugged the bilge drain and no water came out. I was like .... huh ? Reached into the bilge and on both sides found the 2 rubber plugs .
Thats when it all started rushing out.
Luckily the water wasnt very dark in color .
I lifted the bow as HIGH as I could and sat it on a large 2x6 and drained probably 5-6 gallons of water out of the hull.
Not exactly sure how this water gets in there , but glad we have the rubber bungs to drain em.
I always drain after every outing .
I dont always get water , but I let the hull breathe regardless as to keep the stringers dry.

If you want more info on your glasstron head over here ........http://www.classicglastron.com/phpbb/

 

[ShapeShifter]

Re: V156 Secret Rubber Plugs in the Sump...?

Thanks for the reply. I actually posted the same question over there at classicglastron. No real answer as to what compartments are drained by the plugs. I hope they are just tubes that come from the anchor locker.......

I have seen many threads about decks being replaced on simliar boats. My boat seems solid but I wonder whts going on under the deck now.......