First time boat owner..a question needing some help. Plzzzz

[dloveb]

i bought a 1966 tri hull starcraft..took it out seemed good ..14 ft.. put all new plugs in it.. my question is ..the valley in the bottom back of my boat where the bilge is..theren were two holes on the side of this valley..put new plugs in them..pulled them out bout week after taking the boat out ..and yes stuck my fingers in there and it was wet n grimey..has moisture in them both..is this bad..

 

[southkogs]

Re: First time boat owner..a question needing some help. Plzzzz

Welcome aboard dloveb. Didn't know Starcraft had a try-hull in '66 ... would like to see some pictures of it sometime.

Are those holes exiting the hull? If yes, plug them when you go out and yank the plugs when you get back on the trailer. Leaving them in for a week may well keep things wet and grimy. HOWEVER, you said "in" the bilge. So, if those holes are on either side of the bilge leading up into the hull (meaning they don't vent outside the hull) ... don't plug those at all.

 

[dloveb]

Re: First time boat owner..a question needing some help. Plzzzz

They look as if they go all way up to the front of the boat. I think there is wood in there. I'll get lights in there n take some pics. Of the holes n the boat itself. My title says 1966 starcraft. But no model type so I dunno what it is. First boat for me. And yes its tri hull glasser

 

[belleview3]

Re: First time boat owner..a question needing some help. Plzzzz

Like Southkogs said, if the holes don't lead out of the hull- leave them open. I expect those are drain holes for the cavity under the deck (the space between the deck and the hull). My old trihull had similar holes. You can spray water into them to clear some of the crud - you want those holes to be clear to drain out trapped water during all of the fun you will have out ON THE WATER!
Good luck. . .

 

[dloveb]

Re: First time boat owner..a question needing some help. Plzzzz

Sheww we. Thank u. I'm thinking my boat is leaking. In the front somewhere. But now u say that. Would make sense. That the water that gets on deck has to have somewhere to go

 

[dloveb]

Re: First time boat owner..a question needing some help. Plzzzz

 

[dloveb]

Re: First time boat owner..a question needing some help. Plzzzz

these are the two holes in the bilge area im talking about in my fiberglass 1966 starcraft..im hoping these for if any water gets into deck area for it to drain to.. because there is some moisture in these holes if i stick my fingers in them.. if they arent for that..then i dunno...like i said new boat owner..im new to all this...and should i them open or plug them ...lol i bought plugs for them ..and put them in it when i took it out on the lake... didnt seem to have any leaking problems..just got kind of worried when i took the plugs out i put in them and there was moisture and wet grimy stuff..cause i didnt get any water in the deck or floor when i took it out...plzzz anyones advice would be greatful..

 

[dloveb]

Re: First time boat owner..a question needing some help. Plzzzz

these holes are straight across from each other ..and up close to the top of bilge area

 

[dloveb]

Re: First time boat owner..a question needing some help. Plzzzz

 

[dloveb]

Re: First time boat owner..a question needing some help. Plzzzz

here is pic of the inside of my boat..going to take more of the whole boat..so i can trying see if you all can help me determine what model starcaft it is ..title says 1966 starcraft..14 ft..thats it and its tri hull glasser...that all i know..would like to know what model though?????lol

 

[dloveb]

Re: First time boat owner..a question needing some help. Plzzzz

 

[dloveb]

Re: First time boat owner..a question needing some help. Plzzzz

here are some pics...can anyone tell me the model plzzz..

 

[dloveb]

Re: First time boat owner..a question needing some help. Plzzzz

tried looking it up by the hull id number plate ..but still cant figure anything out ...the steering wheel and controls have been cut out of it also..so thats why im wondering what model it is...and would love to install steering back onto the boat...and would like to know if a 25 or 35 hp motor would be too much on it ...

 

[dwco5051]

Re: First time boat owner..a question needing some help. Plzzzz

If you are talking about the two holes about 10" apart about half way up the transom they appear that that would be below the waterline of just about even when a motor was attached to the boat. Without a closer look I would take a guess that they at one time were outfitted with hose fittings and may have been either connected to a hose for a live well overflow, deck drain or some combination of the two. If they are even close to the waterline keep plugs in them when in the water. The top two holes about 3 feet or so apart are to drain the motor well when water gets splashed in. The bottom hole at the center line is the bilge drain and should always be plugged before launching and left out when stored to keep water from accumulating and rotting thins when the boat is not in use.

 

[dloveb]

Re: First time boat owner..a question needing some help. Plzzzz

no they are in the bilge area not on the transom..they dont exit out of the boat..its like there incase water was to get in the hull of the boat i guess..but seems to me they lead up to the front of the boat under the flooring.. rather for the flooring deck drain..i dunno ..lol.. first boat..but seems like they are for under the flooring ..not for the deck...thats what scares me because there is moisture in there.. im guessing if i were to remove the deck flooring..then the fiberglass floor ,,thats the area that these holes would be for ...i dont really know..

 

[dloveb]

Re: First time boat owner..a question needing some help. Plzzzz

 

[dloveb]

Re: First time boat owner..a question needing some help. Plzzzz

here are some better pics of them i think..they dont exit the boat..are in the bilge area not on the transom..one on the left side one on the right side of the bilge valley...so i have no idea..

 

[southkogs]

Re: First time boat owner..a question needing some help. Plzzzz

View attachment 143490

Bottom hole in this photo is the critter that needs a plug. The two in the bilge you're showing should be left open to allow water to run into the bilge and get pumped out. You've probably had some water trapped in there if they've been plugged up. I'd get the bow tilted WAY up and see how much water runs out ... and for how long. If you're still getting water dripping after a day or so, you might have a significant problem.

 

[dloveb]

Re: First time boat owner..a question needing some help. Plzzzz

ok thank u so much...southkogs... i dont think its full of water i hope not lol...but i will try what u say..and see what happens..so if no water comes out i should be ok then ..right...and so these holes in the bilge..should stay open right,,,, got ya..thanks again..

 

[dloveb]

Re: First time boat owner..a question needing some help. Plzzzz

and my main plug the critter u talking bout ..i have it plugged from the inside..so i got one there...now i also have a true live well..with three plugs ..i bought new ones..the one that leads out to the bottom of the boat is a 3/4 in plug..then two on the sides of the live well are 7/8 in.. for the drain of the live well..there are no pumps or aerators...if i pull the main live well plug thats going to bring water into the well...idiot question here...will my boat fill up with water n sink..lol...when i had it out on the lake .. i was to scared to pull the plug for the live well...didnt know how it worked..