Holes below the waterline...

[oldmako]

This is really just a bit of venting so be forewarned...

My yot, a 23 center console inboard (Irvette) has 3 drains which discharge below the waterline. The forward bilge, the livewell/fishbox pump out and the livewell overflow. The livewell overflow or discharge is just a straight shot as its head is higher than the drain. The livewell pump out and forward bilge drains are installed with anti siphon loops about a foot or so above the waterline.

The anti-siphon gizmos are fine and well and good and all that crap until the through-hull fittings craps out and/or cracks....then my boat becomes a sub.

Were they smoking crack when they built this thing? They were smart enough to install the rear bilge discharge well above the waterline.

The boat is an 89 and as far as I know has never seen action below the waterline. Someday I'll remove the bilge and pump out drains and relocate them well above the waterline. But in the meantime I am just perplexed and worried. My yot spends most of it's time on the trailer high and dry but is often at the dock...fortunately sitting in fairly shallow water.

I'd change them out now, but I am unable to access them without first removing the T-Top and all the electronics, the console and all the instrumentation, and the engine. So....they are a freakin fixture until that mother blows up.

Creative, thoughful and intelligent replies are welcome and encouraged. Scalding drive by's are entertaining, cathartic and fun to read. Let em rip.

[HullSlap]

Your bladder will thank the boat designer when you don't have to listen to water perpetually trickling out of the livewell discharge from way above the waterline. My livewell discharge is at the waterline and quite silent. As long as the below the water through-hulls are correctly installed and made of metal or marelon (not white plastic) you should be fine. Make sure to take a close look at them at regular intervals. Keep a set of wooden tapered plugs on board just in case one lets go. A high water alarm in the bilge isn't a bad idea either.

[fichtion]

oldmako - 6/29/2006 6:45 PM

This is really just a bit of venting so be forewarned...

My yot, a 23 center console inboard (Irvette) has 3 drains which discharge below the waterline. The forward bilge, the livewell/fishbox pump out and the livewell overflow. The livewell overflow or discharge is just a straight shot as its head is higher than the drain. The livewell pump out and forward bilge drains are installed with anti siphon loops about a foot or so above the waterline.

The anti-siphon gizmos are fine and well and good and all that crap until the through-hull fittings craps out and/or cracks....then my boat becomes a sub.

Were they smoking crack when they built this thing? They were smart enough to install the rear bilge discharge well above the waterline.

The boat is an 89 and as far as I know has never seen action below the waterline. Someday I'll remove the bilge and pump out drains and relocate them well above the waterline. But in the meantime I am just perplexed and worried. My yot spends most of it's time on the trailer high and dry but is often at the dock...fortunately sitting in fairly shallow water.

I'd change them out now, but I am unable to access them without first removing the T-Top and all the electronics, the console and all the instrumentation, and the engine. So....they are a freakin fixture until that mother blows up.

Creative, thoughful and intelligent replies are welcome and encouraged. Scalding drive by's are entertaining, cathartic and fun to read. Let em rip.

Are you a writer?, this is one of the better worded posts I have read.

As you can tell, I am not a writer, more of a, as you put it, driveby type of guy.

BTW, don'r sweat the thru hulls, if they are bronze (is that right?) and not damaged things should continue to be OK and dry.

[oldmako]

No I are not a righter. The thru hulls are not marelon nor bronze. They are white plastic and if bought by the box very very inexpensive. I suppose this is why the builder used them in the first place. The crazy thing is, the two seacocks are bronze with huge heavy duty ball valves. They are very high quality with matching strainers and appear suitable for a much larger, substantial yot.

I keep an eye on the el cheapos, but really - how do you when one has gone through it's last summer/winter cycle and is about to turn to dust at the slightest impact? Therein lies the problem.

Bungs I've already got but the high water alarms I do not. I have been thinking of installing a pair of them but have yet to take the plunge. Perhaps this discussion will get me off my hail damaged buttocks and into the bilge. Or perhaps it will only deepen my despair and lead me to the licquor cabinet.