boat with lots of questions.

Let me try this again. No replies first time. I have a 19 foot "Tides" boat. (Not made any more.) It is a center console with t top and swim platform . The swim platform seems to be origianal to the boat (made of the same material as boat, same color and runs the width of the boat and adds an additional 18 - 20 inches to its length. When no one in the boat the swim platform sits right on the water's surface. When boat is moving it is about 4-5 inches above the water. When looking at the boat from shore it looks low in the water. How can I tell? How far down in the water should the engine be? Ive looked at other boas but they dont look like mine. Is there a rule about this? There is also about a 100 pound sand bag in the front. There seems tobe water that accumulates under the front, center of the boat that doesnt drain with the bilge pump. If dealer pulls plug from underneath it will drain out. Am I sinking?

Re: boat with lots of questions.

Swim platforms do sit close to the water when at rest. But generally they should not be level with the surface of the water. Check for excess weight in the back, like trapped water, water soaked foam under the floor, or extra fuel tanks and batteries under the splashwell. Any weight you can relocate to the center or front of the boat will help. Which leads to the next issue, the sand bag....

The sand bag up front was probably added to reduce or eliminate "porpoising". That when the front of the boat continually rises and falls when on plane. Generally caused by too much weight in the back. The sand bag offsets the weight. Trim tabs is another way of getting rid of porposing, but weight re-distribution is the best solution.

If water is building in the front and not getting pumped out, yes, you are slowly sinking. Check under the floor for a clogged length of tube (often PVC) that is intended to let water drain from one compartment to another. These often get clogged and prevent drainage. If there is no provision at all for drainage, it would be a good idea to add some, or add a bilge pump to that area.

Should also drill a few inspection holes in the floor to check for water soaked foam.

I bet with a full evaluation of the boat and its contents, you can get the swim platform up, and the sand bag out. Unless the under floor area is full of water soaked foam.

Re: boat with lots of questions.

Spot on advice Mark!

Re: boat with lots of questions.

Thank You will check out all your good ideas

Re: boat with lots of questions.

M Martin said:

There seems tobe water that accumulates under the front, center of the boat that doesnt drain with the bilge pump.

Click to expand...

How is that water getting into the boat in the first place? If it's something simple like people dripping water after swimming that's one thing, but you really need to determine where it's coming from. I'm wondering if there's some waterlogged foam, in which case you've got big problems.