How big a deal is it for a boat to be self-bailing? or Sheaffer 239 vs. Gause 26 - The Hull Truth

TampaCT · 07-17-2006, 10:23 PM

I love these two boats. Both are incredible in just about every way.

No, I haven’t ridden in the Andros 26 yes I did look at the Avenger 25. I will ride in both of those boats before I make a final decision. There is another custom made over in Ft. Pierce that I want to look at…but for right now it is Sheaffer vs. Gause.

I probably like the Gausebilt 26 just a little bit more…it’s a little bigger, seems a little dryer, actually seems to go a little skinnier…but, now this is the big but, it is NOT self-bailing! That one fact is pushing me back to the Sheaffer.

So the question is…How big a deal is it for a fishing boat to be self bailing? If I’m going off shore is it a must (or at least an almost must). I do seem to always make a mess of my boat when I get bait on the flats…and I’m used to just washing the grass and mud off boat inside and out. It would drive me crazy to put up with it. Of course, I’m a big guy…and when I have two or three friends in the boat with me I do end up putting plugs in my scuppers…but I can always pull them when I run and clear out the boat…

How big a deal is it? Do you NEED a self-bailing boat?

littletunny · 07-17-2006, 10:33 PM

No.

That being said, it is so nice to wash out the boat at the dock at the end of the day and not have to worry about the water. I would never purchase a boat that wasn't self bailing. If you like the Gausebilt, maybe add a bilge pump and have it dump into the splashwell.

whippa4 · 07-17-2006, 10:34 PM

The Sheaffer is one real beauty.....I love their tower.... If I ever go back to an In-shore
boat that will be it !!! If I can afford one ...never see a used one ... I need to take a closer look at the Guase

TampaCT · 07-17-2006, 10:45 PM

This is the website for the gause built
http://www.gausebuiltboats.com/

This is the website for the sheaffer
http://www.sheaffermarine.com/SB_main.htm

whippa4 · 07-17-2006, 10:53 PM

They cost about the same ??? an "Arm & Leg"

thataway · 07-18-2006, 12:07 AM

I prefer a self bailing boat. However I recently owned a non self bailing--and it puts you down deeper into the boat, with more gunnel to rest against. The issue is getting water out--and a sump aft for a bilge pump--or better a second large bilge pump!

TampaCT · 07-18-2006, 12:23 AM

it has two bilge pumps

Mr. Demeanor · 07-18-2006, 01:54 AM

You here the self bailing thing all the time on here. Maybe I pay more attention because I own a Concept and they take some heat for not being self bailing. That being said, I here of alot more boats sinking due to faulty scuppers, hoses, etc, than I do to boats not being self bailing.

Fever Mike · 07-18-2006, 02:07 AM

My last boat was a Concept which was not self bailing. My new boat is a Fountain which is self bailing. I love the self bailing for many many reasons. Clean up is much easier and the bildge stays dry.
My Concept would eat battery's due to the bildge pump running all the time as the boat sat on the list in the rain. Impossible to reach the drain plug on a list too.

HEDJUG · 07-18-2006, 08:54 AM

Self bailing all the way. There is no good reason to let seawater have open access to your bilge, there are 100's of reasons to keep it out.

HeadHunt · 07-18-2006, 09:40 AM

Having owned both self-bailing and non self-bailing boats, I would never own another boat unless it bails.

HH

TampaCT · 07-18-2006, 10:58 PM

I didn't eventhink about all that time on the lift...

SnoweyTiger · 07-19-2006, 11:40 AM

Self is just plain convenient. You get fish blood and slime on the deck, just hit it with a bucket of water and keep on fishing. Spilled sticky cola.. same thing. Wash up time at the end of the day.. turn on the hose and dont worry about burning up the battery with the bilge pump. And you dont have to worry about rain when you are in storage. Self bailing is one of the little conveniences that lets you enjoy the boat time.

aj bruno · 07-19-2006, 12:20 PM

I would not buy another boat without selfbailing
exspecially a boat in thi class.

TampaCT · 07-20-2006, 10:33 PM

So is a boat that not selfbailing safe for off-shore use? While one would always hope to avoid really bad seas...hope, and be prepared for are two different things.

Glen E · 07-20-2006, 10:55 PM

Quote:

TampaCT - 7/20/2006 10:33 PM

So is a boat that not selfbailing safe for off-shore use? While one would always hope to avoid really bad seas...hope, and be prepared for are two different things.

I think you just answered your own question....

TampaCT · 07-22-2006, 01:15 AM

are there any empiracle studies done...I mean isn't this an engineering question that can be answered by numbers...

or rather why would someone make a top-of-the-line custom boat that would have such a flaw...if it was/is a flaw.

I am not knowledgable enough to say...but i love listening to the debate of the experts of this forum.

I can't hear enough opinions.

billh1963 · 07-22-2006, 08:08 AM

I keep my boats in the water when I'm fortunate to have a weekend to go to the coast. There is nothing worse than having a heavy downpour at 2:00 a.m. and having to go out to pump the boat. If it doesn't self bail then I'm not interested.

BIGnUGLY · 07-22-2006, 12:31 PM

Good gravy, what happens when you take a wave over the bow. Maybe I'm just lucky, but I've been caught a few times (4) over the years and had waves come completely over the hard top. If it didn't self bail I'd be very concerned about the "next" wave since the boat would sit lower in the water. As it is I know that I can concentrate on keeping the bow up, not figureing out how to get the water out.

That being said I had a poorly designed "self bailing" bay boat that let as much water in as out. And when alot of water came over the front the underpowered POS couldn't get up on plane so I had to pull inspection plates and let the water into the bilge, the center of gravity raised, and the boat could get on plane to "self bail"

Of course, maybe your not as "lucky" as I am.