Author with research question about boats

[LaurenD]

Hi everyone,
I'm hoping someone can help me out with this boat-related research question I have for the novel I'm working on. I have a character who is trying to sink a boat. She's not a boating expert, so I'm hoping she'll be able to simply "pull the plug"--though I know it might not be that easy. Without having to have her do some elaborate thing to get a boat to sink (she'll be in a bit of a hurry), is there truly a drain plug of some sort that she can pull out to have the boat fill with water? (Conveniently there are bricks nearby that she'll add into the boat to help push it down.) This is back in 1980, and I'd like the boat to be a a simple aluminum fishing boat, like a jon boat. And obviously I need this woman to be able to sink it, so if you know if a particular boat that would be easier for this objective, I'd welcome the advice!
Thanks so much. It often takes a village to write a book

 

[Scott Danforth]

First, welcome aboard

If the boat is a really old aluminum boat (long before flotation foam was added), then pulling the plug would get the boat to sink.

Standing on the gunwale may also swamp the boat allowing it to sink. Sort of like standing in a canoe

Never stand in a narrow jon boat for this reason.

However most boats have flotation foam until you get to much larger boats. The flotation foam is to prevent sinking and to save lives, as well as recover the boat should it swamp

However on a neglected boat that may have been stored with the drain plug in and may have water-logged foam and rotten wood, pulling the drain plug will once again sink the boat.

Good luck with the book

 

[Captain Caveman]

I have a 12ft 1979 Starcraft without any floatation....just wooden bench seats. If I pull the plug or forget to put it in, that boat is sinking to the bottom. I suppose that it probably had floatation in a rear bench seat at one point but a previous owner must have ripped it out. Old boats are often modified in both good and bad ways, so it wouldn't be uncommon to find an old row boat or jon boat without any floatation.

Many old 12-16ft aluminum boats just have a plug in the back that is easy to pull in and out. They won't sink as fast as one would see in the cartoons since the water is flowing through a 7/8" hole. However, they would probably sink after a couple of minutes.

 

[racerone]

Take a rifle and shoot through bottom of boat.------Careful and use only 1 bullet.-----Do not put a second hole in the boat as that might let the water back out.

 

[GA_Boater]

Take a rifle and shoot through bottom of boat.------Careful and use only 1 bullet.-----Do not put a second hole in the boat as that might let the water back out.

Shoot the Aflac duck first.

 

[LaurenD]

First, welcome aboard

If the boat is a really old aluminum boat (long before flotation foam was added), then pulling the plug would get the boat to sink.

Standing on the gunwale may also swamp the boat allowing it to sink. Sort of like standing in a canoe

Never stand in a narrow jon boat for this reason.

However most boats have flotation foam until you get to much larger boats. The flotation foam is to prevent sinking and to save lives, as well as recover the boat should it swamp

However on a neglected boat that may have been stored with the drain plug in and may have water-logged foam and rotten wood, pulling the drain plug will once again sink the boat.

Good luck with the book

Thanks so much! I appreciate the help.

 

[LaurenD]

I have a 12ft 1979 Starcraft without any floatation....just wooden bench seats. If I pull the plug or forget to put it in, that boat is sinking to the bottom. I suppose that it probably had floatation in a rear bench seat at one point but a previous owner must have ripped it out. Old boats are often modified in both good and bad ways, so it wouldn't be uncommon to find an old row boat or jon boat without any floatation.

Many old 12-16ft aluminum boats just have a plug in the back that is easy to pull in and out. They won't sink as fast as one would see in the cartoons since the water is flowing through a 7/8" hole. However, they would probably sink after a couple of minutes.

This is great. Thank you very much.

 

[LaurenD]

Take a rifle and shoot through bottom of boat.------Careful and use only 1 bullet.-----Do not put a second hole in the boat as that might let the water back out.

Ooh, plot twist. Perfect.

 

[Commander_47]

On a boat with a commode, there is usually a thru hull sea **** valve down in the hull where the hot water heater would be. This valve allows water from outside to flush thru the commode to the dirty water tank. It is usually a simple task to either cut the hose from the valve to the commode, or smash a plastic pipe with a hammer, or some other means to make sure the valve is open and the pipe to the commode is destroyed.

Iboats has lots of them:
. https://www.iboats.com/shop/groco-t...NqFEFzlHQb62PVvSbqZDoLO0ZgomSe6AaAnFAEALw_wcB

 

[GA_Boater]

On a boat with a commode, there is usually a thru hull sea **** valve down in the hull where the hot water heater would be. This valve allows water from outside to flush thru the commode to the dirty water tank. It is usually a simple task to either cut the hose from the valve to the commode, or smash a plastic pipe with a hammer, or some other means to make sure the valve is open and the pipe to the commode is destroyed.

Iboats has lots of them:
. https://www.iboats.com/shop/groco-t...NqFEFzlHQb62PVvSbqZDoLO0ZgomSe6AaAnFAEALw_wcB

My jon bot has a gold plated throne as solid gold weighed too much.

Thanks for the store tag, but overkill for the OP's fictional jon boat.

 

[LundAngler1650]

Had 3 boats in my life, and 2 were/are small aluminum ones. Yes they have a very easy to remove plug at the back, low down, centered side to side. If your character were to just reach over the back of the boat, hand in the water, it would be easy to locate by feel, no need to see it, flip the little latch with a finger, and pull out. The boat will instantly start filling up with water, and within minutes it should be full enough to be very low in the water, and soon after sunk. Maybe not to the bottom of the lake if it had enough floatation, but at least just level with the water surface. I really don't see how the tiny little bit of styrofoam in either of my boats would keep them afloat, especially If there is an outboard engine hanging on the back which is heavy. If it makes any difference, boat #1 was a 14' Princecraft with 20 hp Yamaha, currently in a 16' Lund with 25 hp Mercury. The plug is generally removed every time that you pull the boat out of the water, to rest on its trailer, this allows any water already in it to drain out, and rain to not fill it up. In a pinch if at cruising speed, you could pull the plug out and it will actually suck the water in the bottom of the boat out, just replace the plug before slowing down, or the water flows in, not out.
Now I want to read your book!

 

[Captain Caveman]

Clearly we all deserve some writing credits.....or a sneak preview of the book!

 

[LundAngler1650]

Clearly we all deserve some writing credits.....or a sneak preview of the book!

Signed copies shipped to our door

 

[Commander_47]

And quite honestly, a stout buck knife will easily cut through the thin aluminum between the stringers. Make a nice big hole fast.

How much was that gold plated throne? I need one for the tender tushes of my grand girls.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

And quite honestly, a stout buck knife will easily cut through the thin aluminum between the stringers. Make a nice big hole fast.

How much was that gold plated throne? I need one for the tender tushes of my grand girls.

You might be able to stab thru the hull of a Starcraft, that will not work on an Alumacraft or Lund.

 

[LundAngler1650]

You might be able to stab thru the hull of a Starcraft, that will not work on an Alumacraft or Lund.

Agreed, my Lund would not be easy cutting with a knife, more of A Husqvarna chop saw sort of deal, my previous boat was a Princecraft, that was a tough boat as well. Well used in the 20 year I had it, sold it still in pretty good shape despite the 1000 beachings on gravel, and numerous bumps against docks, logs, whatever. It is another reason that I prefer aluminum for my type of boating. Also nothing to be damaged by shoes with gravel on the bottom, or our great danes leaping in and out.

 

[LaurenD]

Had 3 boats in my life, and 2 were/are small aluminum ones. Yes they have a very easy to remove plug at the back, low down, centered side to side. If your character were to just reach over the back of the boat, hand in the water, it would be easy to locate by feel, no need to see it, flip the little latch with a finger, and pull out. The boat will instantly start filling up with water, and within minutes it should be full enough to be very low in the water, and soon after sunk. Maybe not to the bottom of the lake if it had enough floatation, but at least just level with the water surface. I really don't see how the tiny little bit of styrofoam in either of my boats would keep them afloat, especially If there is an outboard engine hanging on the back which is heavy. If it makes any difference, boat #1 was a 14' Princecraft with 20 hp Yamaha, currently in a 16' Lund with 25 hp Mercury. The plug is generally removed every time that you pull the boat out of the water, to rest on its trailer, this allows any water already in it to drain out, and rain to not fill it up. In a pinch if at cruising speed, you could pull the plug out and it will actually suck the water in the bottom of the boat out, just replace the plug before slowing down, or the water flows in, not out.
Now I want to read your book!

This is helpful! Thank you.