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  How much water will come in my Montauk if I pull the plug?

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Author Topic:   How much water will come in my Montauk if I pull the plug?
Conrad posted 06-25-2002 01:09 PM ET (US)   Profile for Conrad   Send Email to Conrad  
I was doing some trailer maintenace last weekend and had my boat tied up to a friends dock. While I was working on the trailer a down pour of rain started. It rained for about 2 or 3 hours (on and off). I was a little worried about the boat, because it does not have a bilge pump. When I got back to the boat, it had about a foot of water in the back. My boat is little back heavy because I have a 25 gallon tank, located about 2 feet from the back of the transom, under a home made rear seat.

My question is: How much water will come in, if I leave my drain plug out? I have heard a few people say that they leave the plug out when they are expecting rain or leaving the boat unattended for a while, but I have never had the nerve to do it my self. I am afraid the water will get to the batteries up under the console (or short out somthing electronic).

Thanks,
Carl

Soho posted 06-25-2002 01:18 PM ET (US)     Profile for Soho  Send Email to Soho     
Carl,

I think that with a Montauk the answer is about an inch. If I am off on this I think that someone who knows for sure will correct me !

Ciao,

Ron

Cpt Quint posted 06-25-2002 01:32 PM ET (US)     Profile for Cpt Quint  Send Email to Cpt Quint     
Year model has something to do with this but even at worst case scenario, the lower sump may fill up and then a bit (on your full tank of gas) but probably not much.
You do realize that the entire floor has foam in it.
Do a self test. Fill you tank up with gas, pull her over to some shallow water, and pull it, you will be suprised.
Bottom line is that if the plug is out it cannot, will not swamp with a normal(or in your case slightly over normal)load.
The good 2 inch rain will swamp one if the plug is left in the boat and there is no where for the water to run out.
MikeG posted 06-25-2002 01:36 PM ET (US)     Profile for MikeG  Send Email to MikeG     
Carl,

I have a Montauk myself and I have found that water will come in about an inch or so above the floor in the back if you pull the plug. On my boat it tapers off to nothing near the back of the RPS. The rest of the floor stays dry. I have a 290lb engine and the factory rear seat.

However, if someone gets in the boat and starts walking towards the back it will start filling up to about ankle deep pretty quick. The boat will also lose some of it stability when it is full of water.

Remember the tunnel under the floor will flood first so make sure any connections in here are watertight.

If you start the boat and get it up on a plane the water will run out the back drain quickly.

I personally leave the plug in when the boat is moored and allow my bilge pump to clear the excess water. I only do this because the boat may be moored for a while without use and stuff will start to grow in the water at the back of the boat.

Mike

Bigshot posted 06-25-2002 01:50 PM ET (US)     Profile for Bigshot  Send Email to Bigshot     
Ditto! Mine fills to about the back of the RPS. I have forgotten the plug and she will fill up to the splash well and start to drain into that. The water will go just passed the console but nowhere deep enough to submerge battery or anything. It is a treat trying to get in it to pull the plug once it gets that full. My drain plug clogged with leaves once so I drove it out my canal into the river to drain it. Was kinda scary. The slightest move of the wheel or weight and the water goes to one side and you think she is gonna roll over but it does not. I literaly had about 200+ gallons in it and once I got outside I punched it. Most of the water went over the back and my little 70 got her on plane with about 1000lbs of water in the stern.....was pretty impressed.
Conrad posted 06-26-2002 09:52 AM ET (US)     Profile for Conrad  Send Email to Conrad     
I guess it is good to test under controlled conditions. The next time I am in some shallow fresh water, I may pull the plug and see where the water levels out.

I have left it unplugged by accident before (for about 20 minutes) and it got just short of the RPS (but I did not know if it was done filling).

Thanks,
Carl

robdm posted 06-26-2002 10:06 AM ET (US)     Profile for robdm  Send Email to robdm     
Question, I never kept the plugs in our 20' OR in. Is this a mistake?
Had the boat for over 10 years with no problems.It could rain 5" an the cockpit will never see water in it.
What are the reasons I would want the plugs in?
Thanks
Rob
Bigshot posted 06-26-2002 10:15 AM ET (US)     Profile for Bigshot  Send Email to Bigshot     
If your boat takes in water!

My 19' revenge NEVER had a plug in it for almost 30 years. With 5 people in it, it would not take on any water. The smaller ones are a bit more sensitive to weight and will take on a minimal amount. If I could leave my plugs out, I would. I do keep the bow locker plug out or else it fills with rain water.

T Party posted 06-26-2002 10:33 AM ET (US)     Profile for T Party    
Carl-
If you left your plug out for 20 minutes while not underway, it was probably finished filling. My battery is in the stern and I have a 28 gallon Tempo tank under my RPS. With the plug pulled and a full tank of gas the water reaches the aft end of the console. It's probably about 1 1/2" - 2" deep in the stern around the battery. If your battery is in the console, it will be high and dry. The water will rise a bit if you board the boat, of course. All the other posts on here are correct - I just thought I'd chime in because I have a similar setup.

Don't worry if you have to pull the plug. The boat will drain in a few minutes once you get her underway.
-John

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