CONTINUOUSWAVE

Backstory: it's been a few years since I've logged into ContinuousWave because I moved to the west coast and left my classic 15 on the east coast. I definitely miss it. The time has come for me to once again become a Whaler owner.

For the purpose of this thread I want the term “self bailing” to mean a boat which has a deck that is above the waterline and has scuppers such that any water that enters the cockpit will drain out without a bilge pump, and without the drain plug being removed.

I want to purchase a small center console. I do not intend to buy a trailer. The boat will live in fresh water in Seattle. Given how much it rains here, any boat that would require me to manually intervene anytime it rains is a non-starter. Given how overcast it is during the non-summer months I do not want to rely on a solar charger to keep a bilge pump operational, and there is no source of electricity at the dock were the boat will be kept.

Question: among all new 2017, 2018, or 2019 Boston Whaler boats, what are the smallest boats that are self bailing?

I’ve poked around on the web, and I think the answers are as follows:

Montauk: 19’
Dauntless: 17’
Outrage: 19’
Super Sport: none of them have scuppers

Can anybody confirm or deny those sizes?

Thanks,



TJ

I can tell you for a fact that the 190 Outrage will have a self-bailing cockpit that meets all of your requirements.

I can confirm the 170 Dauntless (I have the 2014 model)

Don't be mislead by the term "Self Bailing". It does not mean that no water can find itself below deck or in the bilge. Small amounts of rain water can find a path to the bilge. Enough heavy rain could activate the bilge pump. Over enough time that could result in a dead battery and and some amount of water above deck.

A solution to that potential problem is to connect a battery charger (maintainer) to shore power to prevent the bilge pump from draining the battery. Absent shore power a solar panel powered battery maintainer could be installed.

A properly made fitted mooring cover may be a better solution with the added benefit of UV protection of the cockpit and it's contents.

We have been caught out in heavy rain on our 190 Montauk and the rain caused the bilge pump to function surprisingly often.

Self-bailing. Interesting.

My 1982 Montauk with a 90-hp Evinrude "took on a bit of water" when I left the plugs out. Enough to get your feet wet.

My 1963 Sport with 33-hp Johnson "took on a bit of water" when I left the plugs out. Enough to get your feet wet.

My 1981 Aquasport Osprey with 150-hp was ALWAYS dry sitting on the mooring for 10-years. I don't even think we had plugs.

I'd say the Aquasport was self-bailing. Of course, she wasn't a Whaler.

JimP

jimp wrote:Self-bailing. Interesting...

Maybe I'm missing something, but the thread is specific to specific Whaler models and specific years.
D-

My 210 Montauk is "self bailing", but as noted by Jefecinco as on his 190 Montauk, my 210 Montauk will accumulated a good amount of rain water in the bilge and the bilge pump will drain the battery dead. I keep my 210 Montauk on a lift with the garboard drain plug removed.

190 Montuak has nice, big self-bailing drains. Given that the bilge pump draws little power, I'd think a solar charger would do the trick, despite overcast weather.

Or, put the boat on a lift or a floating dock--maybe.

Ridge Runner wrote:My 210 Montauk is "self bailing", but as noted by Jefecinco as on his 190 Montauk, my 210 Montauk will accumulated a good amount of rain water in the bilge and the bilge pump will drain the battery dead. I keep my 210 Montauk on a lift with the garboard drain plug removed.

I have a 210 Montauk. The 210 MONTAUK is self bailing: rain or water on the deck runs out through stern drains. However, water entering through the fishing rod holders and cup holders ends up in the bilge and must get pumped out.

When I have my boat in the yard and inclined, water hitting the area around the stern hatches also wind up in the bilge. If you have a boat on a mooring or in a slip and cover the fishing rod holders and cup holders, then the boat would be completely dry and self bailing. So the "self-bailing" properties are bit of a mixed bag.

magothyboy wrote:I have a 210 Montauk. The 210 MONTAUK is self bailing: rain or water on the deck runs out through stern drains. However, water entering through the fishing rod holders and cup holders ends up in the bilge and must get pumped out.

That is a very interesting observation. Thanks for contributing to this discussion.

Covering or sealing the rod holders and cup holders should decrease the amount of rain water that finds it's way to the bilge. It's certainly worth a try. If your boat is equipped with a live bait well it will be doubly important to ensure the below decks ball valve in the bait well raw water supply line is completely closed. Also ensure the through hull fitting does not allow any sea water to enter.

I have doubts that covering the rod and drink holders will prevent 100% of the rain water from entering the bilge. Hopefully it will decrease the amount sufficiently that the bilge pump will not discharge the battery.

If it was my boat I would install a solar powered battery maintainer as cheap insurance. With boats I believe the belt and suspenders policy is wise.