Water Over Transom in Splashwell

[camping0514]

Just put our first boat 1976 Fabuglas (Outboard 85hp Mercury motor) in the water. First mistake was probably taking it out in 20 mph winds. Within minutes of backing up water had completely flooded the splashwell, battery and gas takes were all floating!

We had plugged the two plugs in the splashwell in addition to the one that's lower in the boat below the engine. Should we have left those open for the water to drain out? Is there something we can do to prevent so much water from getting into the splashwell? Does the direction of the wind really matter if we found a boat ramp on the other side of the lake so we aren't reversing into the waves (I might be way overthinking it). The motor doesn't seem to be oversized for the boat (according to manuals I found online it's rated to 140 HP).

Thanks

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Water Over Transom in Splashwell

You need an experienced boater along with a safety course to show you the ropes. Only the bilge drain should have a plug. Splashwell drains should be open.

How much backing up were you doing? Sounds like you came close to losing her. Do you have a bilge pump?

 

[Grandad]

Re: Water Over Transom in Splashwell

Reversing into waves with an outboard powered boat is one of the easiest ways to swamp it. Plugging the splashwell drains means that trapped water from the first wave adds weight to your stern making it lower in the water and more likely to take on a second wave.

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: Water Over Transom in Splashwell

One of the easiest ways to sink a boat is water over the splashwell backing into waves. Don't ever plug your splashwell drains. How low does the boat sit in the water do you have a picture of it at the dock or anything? Can you take it to a scale and get it weighed? You may have a waterlogged hull causing to much weight.


If you don't have a good working bilge pump go buy one and install it now. You were probably within 2 waves of that boat sitting on the bottom.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Water Over Transom in Splashwell

Splashwell drains should never be plugged and remain open at all times with no debris or objects to obstruct them.

Launching on the other side of the lake would've been a better idea.

Remove your bilge drain plug after every outing to see if your boat is taking on water while in use.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Water Over Transom in Splashwell

Yep, launching for the first time in 20mph winds was your first mistake. The launch on the other side of the lake probably would of had calm waters.
I'm assuming the hole you talked about below the motor is the drain hole for the bilge? Before launching that drain plug "must" be in place otherwise you'll take on water and eventually sink. Make sure you use the "proper" plug. For the most part, water on the splashwell is no biggy as long as it can drain. Providing you don't have waves busting over the transom.

Maybe a pic of the transom?

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Water Over Transom in Splashwell

pics and more description... I've got a bad feeling you have a soaked boat there. Probably several hundred pounds heavier than when she left the factory.

 

[thumpar]

Re: Water Over Transom in Splashwell

My first thought was waterlogged too. Unless you had pretty bad waves or you were trying to go way to fast it should be ok. If it is waterlogged it will sit lower in the water than it is supposed to.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Water Over Transom in Splashwell

also when the wind is high you naturally panic and run the motor too hard in reverse; a gentler course (with the drains open) may have been manageable.

 

[saumon]

Re: Water Over Transom in Splashwell

How much backing up were you doing?

That's also my thought that you run it too long in reverse, which can be troublesome in the conditions you encountered. There's usually no need to back up more than a boat's length or so before putting it in forward to make a u-turn, if at all.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: Water Over Transom in Splashwell

A few years ago I towed my boat 400 miles to fish for brown trout in the mouth of Milwaukee River on Lake Michigan over Thanksgiving. The first morning I went down there and the winds were howling from the east. I backed my boat down the east-facing ramp. I barely had the trailer wheels in the water and water was splashing into the boat. A little further back and water was jumping past the splashwell and into the boat. I was solo at the time, and with a skimpy dock, I pulled out and decided to try the next day. Three straight days of strong, gusting winds from the east and I towed back home without ever getting to fish for brown trout.

I'm typing this today because I made the smart decision. I might have been able to safely launch, but "might" and "maybe" don't belong in boating situations.

It's good that you posted on here about your boat issues. Certainly you should never plug the splash well, but you also need to think through dangerous scenarios before you launch. One thing that you could have easily done was launch the boat, pull the trailer away, and then use your bow and stern lines to turn the boat around by hand to face into the waves and wind. That would have eliminated the need to back up into big waves. However, boating in waves that big is challenging and you need to consider that before launching.

Good luck and welcome to iBoats

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Water Over Transom in Splashwell

Or like that famous picture, drive straight in and lauch bow-first--just don't hit the roof of the tow vehicle with your prop.