New boat owner needs some advice

[bunkync51]

I recently bought a 1999 Hydra Sport 170CC Seahorse with a 1999 90 hp Johnson 2-stroke outboard. On our second outing, our family did some tubing, pulling a 2-person inflatable. At one point, we started taking on some water, and I noticed that the rear inspection hatch cover had popped off right in front of the motor, and water was pushing up through the hatch into the boat. Fortunately, I was able to recover the hatch cover and get it back on the port and stop the flow of incoming water. I have 3 questions: (1) what would cause this to happen? I contacted the previous owner and they said they never had any trouble with it. (2) was I doing something wrong that caused this to happen? (3) Do I need a new hatch cover? Thanks for your help!

bunkync51

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: New boat owner needs some advice

I can't picture what was happening to get water "up through the hatch". Do you have a hatch on the "floor" of the splashwell, so you can have access to the inside of the transom at the bottom of the hull? If so, there should seldom be water of any significance in the splashwell (except hard reverse against waves). It drains out the drain hole through the transom.
But if so, and the hatch was open, that water would drain down into the hull; the bilge pump will take care of it (you have one on a float switch, right?) There shouldn't be water coming up from the hull or you have huge problems.

or do you have some kind of opening through the transom and into the hull? that would be unusual and as you can see, dangerous. The only thing I could think of would be a scupper drain with the drain hose come loose.

Is this hatch on the deck (floor) right in front of the motor? If so it sounds like you have water in the bilge. if it's enough to come up through that hatch again you have huge problems. That much water won't get in the bilge in the first place from wet swimmers, and should be cleared by the bilge pump.

Or what happened when "At one point, we started taking on some water"? Was there a major swamping--stuff the bow, perhaps?


Photos? Better description?

 

[bunkync51]

Re: New boat owner needs some advice



OK; there should be 5 photos attached showing the closed hatch just in front of the transom; the next 3 are shots of the stern showing what's there; and the last is the open hatch cover showing the pumps(s) and bilge switch. I really don't know what happened to start this sequence of events, but, when I noticed the water in the boat, I turned to look at the stern and saw the water coming up through that hatch. It could have been that I swamped the stern on one of my turns and the water had gone in and was flowing back out when I looked; I'm not sure. Once I got the cover back on, the bilge took care of the water and I didn't have any more problems. Needless to say, my wife was troubled by it and wants me to install a new hatch, but I'm not sure that's the answer. May have been operator error. I don't see any holes anywhere that shouldn't be there. I'm puzzled. Again, thanks for your help!

bunkync51

 

[greenbush future]

Re: New boat owner needs some advice

If water was entering up through this large white access, the entire back of the boat would be filled with water. Is this what you are saying happened? Water can enter in to the splash tray in front of your transom, but it usually enters as a result of hard reverse into waves, and enters over the back of the boat/transom. If it entered from below, I would think you would have a serious issue. You did suggest the bilge took care of this, how many gallons of water are you talking about? 2-3 or 80-90?

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: New boat owner needs some advice

The pump should have been running with that much water, hatch cover on or not. If water is coming in from somewhere else and enough came in to pop that cover there is a very serious problem.

 

[bunkync51]

Re: New boat owner needs some advice

Yes; the back of the boat was full of water. I would say there was a lot more than 2-3 gallons of water, but I don't know if it was as much as 80 or 90. The splash tray was definitely full. Shallow water had made it up to the center console and a little beyond before we got it under control. I hadn't put the boat in reverse, but I may have turned or stopped too suddenly. All I know for sure was there was a lot of water churning over the transom, but once I got the port back on, the bilge took care of it. Maybe those two things aren't really connected, but the bilge did clear the boat and we didn't have that problem again. Other than an obvious hole in the hull, what kind of other serious problem could I have - that might not be obvious visibly? Any thoughts? Thanks!

bunkync51

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: New boat owner needs some advice

you left your plug out.

your boat filled with water and easily could have sunk.

When you say "the bilge took care of it" that's because the water drained back out of the hull drain hull when you were running.

You really dodged a bullet there.

 

[bunkync51]

Re: New boat owner needs some advice

Thank you for all your help. One last question - what plug are you referring to? Where does it go? I didn't remove any plugs, so the previous owner must have left it out. Can you describe where I need to put this plug? Thanks!!

Bunkync51

 

[bunkync51]

Re: New boat owner needs some advice

Thank you for all your help. One last question - what plug are you referring to? Where does it go? I didn't remove any plugs, so the previous owner must have left it out. Can you describe where I need to put this plug? Thanks!!

Bunkync51

 

[JoLin]

Re: New boat owner needs some advice

Photo #4. It's the 'hole' right at the bottom center of the transom. It's supposed to contain a removable plug, like this

PLUG 1-1/4 BR SNAP TITE BULK - Moeller 29055001 - iboats

They come in several different styles and diameters, so you should see what's available and make sure you buy the right size. That plug should be removed when the boat is out of the water so that rain water doesn't collect in the hull. It MUST be put in before you launch the boat. As Home Cookin' said, you really dodged a bullet there.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: New boat owner needs some advice

after you put the plug in, take an experienced boater out with you to learn safe boating. Maybe even the seller will do it. Hire someone if you have to--a marina or repair shop guy, a fishing guide. But for cod's sake don't take your family out until you do.

Was your bilge pump pumping during all this? if not get someone to hook up the float switch to run automatically.

This shows how the "boating safety course" does not a safe boater make (you did take one, right?).

 

[bunkync51]

Re: New boat owner needs some advice

OK; I got it figured out. Can't remember the last time I felt like such a knucklehead! Thank you all for all your help and great advice!

Either the instructor passed over the plug issue, or I missed it somehow. Thanks, again!

bunkync51

 

[pckeen]

Re: New boat owner needs some advice

You're not the first person to leave the plug out. You won't be the last. Learn from it, go back over the systems of your boat and make sure you understand them.....and enjoy the boat!

By the way - welcome to iboats.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: New boat owner needs some advice

WOW....


Sure dodged a bullet......

 

[Watermann]

Re: New boat owner needs some advice

Open all of your hatches, remove anything wet and run a fan in the boat to get it dried out as best you can. Also keep your boat covered and out of the weather.

 

[ZEW]

Re: New boat owner needs some advice

omg... bananas!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: New boat owner needs some advice

OK; I got it figured out. Can't remember the last time I felt like such a knucklehead! Thank you all for all your help and great advice!

Either the instructor passed over the plug issue, or I missed it somehow. Thanks, again!

bunkync51

what concerns me, and others I am sure, is not that you forgot the plug--that happens--or that you didn't realize that particular hole needed a plug, but that you thought it was OK to run the boat with the hull full of water and even up on the deck sloshing around the console.

It's basic that boats should have very little water in them while underway or moored, and if they have water in them, unless you know the cause and can deal with it, you have a serious emergency on your hands.You get to safety immediately, not return to pulling the tube (at least you had that for a life raft).

The fact that you assumed you could have "swamped the stern on a turn" which should never ever happen or that you couldn't find any holes is even more troubling. And then you wanted to contain the water below decks with a stronger hatch!

That boat should have rolled over. Your family was in grave risk there. It wasn't a mere oversight like forgetting your lunch on the dock or leaving your radio on.