Re: What is a self bailing boat?
Sv....
Yeah, that's what everyone here would LIKE our boats to do, but those TV guy's decks are about 20' above the waterline and are designed to quickly dump tons of water. For most of us, we get a hole which drains thru little hoses to the outside - sometimes above and sometimes BELOW the waterline.... (the hose can sometimes (but rarely) crack, let in seawater, and sink the boat) If you do have a deck scupper which drains out to a below sea level thru-hull fitting, make sure you know how to shut off the sea-**** (if your boat has one) usually right at the hull. Sometimes there are other dangerous below-waterline openings - like for wash-down systems or live-wells. The sea-**** should ALWAYS be shut for them when not in use.
I asked for a clarification of self-bailing near the end of this post:
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=272550
I got this reply re self bailing decks vs self bailing boats/hulls:
"a self bailing deck is not the same as a self bailing hull. On a self bailing deck, the deck is above the waterline and there are scuppers that will direct the water overboard rather than into the bilge. Water can still get into the bilge though (especially through the anchor and ski lockers), and this water needs to be pumped out.
Self bailing hulls are pretty much unsinkable, they don't have a bilge and will float even with the plug out (most will fill a little at rest but will empty out when on plane)."
To which I replied:
"I did not know that. I was thinking that if a self bailing deck boat was left at dock in the rain with a dead battery, it could not sink. If I understand it, it just wouldn't sink as quickly, but would eventually sink when enough water seeped into the bilge via any storage compartment or other hatch leaks.
I was wondering why a boat with a self bailing deck would need a bilge pump.
This explains it."
