Wellcraft Center Console - The Hull Truth

milkjunkie · 07-31-2004, 07:00 AM

I have a "self draining" '83 Wellcraft CC hull and when it is resting in water that is not calm, water comes into the two holes in the back of the transom. I saw my friends new Key West CC that has the ping pong ball thinga mah jig so I installed two. I could have got the black rubber flapper instead but no I got the ping pong balls. I hate to spend another 30 bucks. Why doesn't the ping pong balls work well. They are mounted perfect. What is better balls or rubber flapper?

Mike Boehler · 07-31-2004, 07:46 AM

I've got a similar boat with similar problems. With a kicker, two batteries, and all my downriggers, the scuppers are buried in the water unless underway. I just installed a second set of ball scuppers that can be removed from the outside for cleaning the boat while on the trailer. They work good but when I'm in a slip (limited time only) I plug the scuppers from the inside. This works well. I also have two bilge pumps wired seperately and plumbed independently of each other. Its the only solution as far as I can tell.

Mike

ReelWork · 07-31-2004, 09:00 AM

For that type of setup, I would probably put the rubber flaps on the outside in addition to the ping pong ball.

I am surprised that the the PP balls aren't doing the trick though.. I have them on mine and they work great!

rogerstg · 07-31-2004, 10:22 AM

On my boat [20' CC], the drains are just a bit under the water line. I replaced the prior ball scuppers with the removable ones. They let in water in sloshy conditions. It takes a second for the water pressure to make the ball seal, letting water in with each slosh.

In calm conditions, with lots of weight in the stern, water will come in. I've noticed that if there is not enough pressure to hold the ball, the ball floats up off the seal, and requires a bit of extra flow pressure to reseal. I may have solved this by sticking a piece of weather-stripping in the housing to reduce the "head room" from 3/8 inch to 1/8 inch.
Seems to be a design problem. My former, non removable, ball scuppers worked very well. Always dry.

Bullshipper · 07-31-2004, 03:31 PM

Sounds like they are NOT mounted with the correct orientation; so that the outside sea water makes them seal.

AGULHAS · 07-31-2004, 04:43 PM

got to agree with rogerstg. they work great when in a following sea and the pressure from a wave/swell catches up with you and pushes the water against the transom (we used to use tennis balls in the indian ocean) sealing the scuppers. no pressure no seal.