The sump drain on my OUTRAGE 18 sits directly on a trailer bunk.
Give me suggestions on how to rig the trailer or adjust the boat so that the sump drain on the hull buttom will not be blocked by the bunk.
Trailer Bunk Interferes with Hull Drain
Re: Trailer Bunk Interferes with Hull Drain
A photo may be helpful. I'm mentally picturing a transom drain on the keel.
Butch
Re: Trailer Bunk Interferes with Hull Drain
I had the same problem on my 1987 OUTRAGE 18.
The bunks on my trailer are 2x6 lumber. I cut out about a 12-inch section of the bunk under the drain. I then screwed on about a 4-feet-long 2x6 underneath to hold the bunk together.
I have to make sure the trailer is in water deep enough that the boat floats off with out hooking the drain on the aft-most part of the bunk.
Con
The bunks on my trailer are 2x6 lumber. I cut out about a 12-inch section of the bunk under the drain. I then screwed on about a 4-feet-long 2x6 underneath to hold the bunk together.
I have to make sure the trailer is in water deep enough that the boat floats off with out hooking the drain on the aft-most part of the bunk.
Con
!987 Outrage 18 / 2011 Yamaha F150
1969 13 / 30hp Johnson tiller
1969 13 / 30hp Johnson tiller
Re: Trailer Bunk Interferes with Hull Drain
CON--thank you.
I can visualize what you are saying about the drain clamshell hooking on the gap in the bunk.
I can visualize what you are saying about the drain clamshell hooking on the gap in the bunk.
Re: Trailer Bunk Interferes with Hull Drain
A problem with interference between a trailer bunk and a hull drain is not specific to the 18-foot hull. Most Boston Whaler boats have the cockpit sump drain located on the starboard side of the hull and outboard from the keel. The reason for this, particularly on a boat with only one battery, is the battery location is also usually on the starboard side at the transom, and the typical weight distribution at rest will have the boat leaning very slightly to starboard, encouraging water to drain off the cockpit into the starboard sump.
On a trailer with bunks supporting the aft area of the boat, there is always a possibility for the location of a trailer starboard aft bunk to interfere with the starboard cockpit sump drain outlet.
Depending on the particular hull configuration and the width of the bunks, if the aft bunks on the trailer are configured to fit just inside the hull's runners, there may be an inherent interference problem between the bunk and the drain outlet, as often that is the spot where the drain outlet will also be located.
Inasmuch as the drain location cannot be moved, the solution will involve some change in the bunk. As CON suggests, cutting a relief in the bunk to clear the drain area is one solution. The relief area does not need to be the entire width of the bunk, but perhaps just done to the part of the bunk surface that actually interferes with the drain. For example, if the bunks are 4-inches wide, perhaps creating a relief that is 2-inches wide would help prevent damage to the drain. Of course, that approach requires very consistent orientation of the boat on the trailer with respect to side-to-side position.
Another solution is to move both the port and starboard aft bunks closer to the keel centerline.
ASIDE: I have the same situation on my boat and trailer set-up, but the drain can fit without getting crushed by a bunk if the loading is done with the keel exactly on centerline. That does not always occur as the boat comes out of the water, as evidenced on my boat by the clamshell drain having been compressed downward somewhat.
On a trailer with bunks supporting the aft area of the boat, there is always a possibility for the location of a trailer starboard aft bunk to interfere with the starboard cockpit sump drain outlet.
Depending on the particular hull configuration and the width of the bunks, if the aft bunks on the trailer are configured to fit just inside the hull's runners, there may be an inherent interference problem between the bunk and the drain outlet, as often that is the spot where the drain outlet will also be located.
Inasmuch as the drain location cannot be moved, the solution will involve some change in the bunk. As CON suggests, cutting a relief in the bunk to clear the drain area is one solution. The relief area does not need to be the entire width of the bunk, but perhaps just done to the part of the bunk surface that actually interferes with the drain. For example, if the bunks are 4-inches wide, perhaps creating a relief that is 2-inches wide would help prevent damage to the drain. Of course, that approach requires very consistent orientation of the boat on the trailer with respect to side-to-side position.
Another solution is to move both the port and starboard aft bunks closer to the keel centerline.
ASIDE: I have the same situation on my boat and trailer set-up, but the drain can fit without getting crushed by a bunk if the loading is done with the keel exactly on centerline. That does not always occur as the boat comes out of the water, as evidenced on my boat by the clamshell drain having been compressed downward somewhat.
Re: Trailer Bunk Interferes with Hull Drain
Move the bunks.
1992 Outrage 17
2019 E-TEC 90
2018 LoadRite 18280096VT
Member since 2003
2019 E-TEC 90
2018 LoadRite 18280096VT
Member since 2003