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Author Topic:   17', Float Without Drainplug

jay posted 09-23-2003 07:36 PM ET (US)
I think I read somewhere on here that the 11's and 13's don't need drainplug or bilge pump because the deck is above the waterline. You could leave them anchored in the water with the drainplug out and rainwater will just run out.
Did I dream this? Is it supposed to work with the 17'? I tried it, and water kept pouring in, not draining out.
Tom W Clark posted 09-23-2003 07:59 PM ET (US)
Jay,
This tquestion has been much debated but really, this is not a Yes or No kind of question. You are free to do as you please. Leaving the drain plug out will not sink the boat, but it will allow some water in and may in fact allow enough water in to begin to flood the deck a bit.
You ask about a 17 footer but I assume you are referring to one of the 16' 7" hulls such as the Montauk model. Much will depend on how much motor, fuel and gear are on board but in general the sump area and the rigging tube will flood if the plug is left out. On my own Montauk with a 90 hp motor and a 6 hp kicker, there would be couple inches of water in the bottom of the boat of the plug were left out. No way I would leave the plug out under these circumstances.
The one situation where it might make sense to leave the plug out in a 16' 7" model is if the boat were left unattended on a mooring or at a dock and left there without a cover in place. Heavy rain fall would drain out if the plug were not installed and you could always rest assured there was only so much water in the boat at any time.
The down side of this is that marine growth will form in the rigging tube and sump area and on the deck as well if that area is below the waterline.
ryanwhaler posted 09-23-2003 10:49 PM ET (US)
Thats not 100% true with the 11'hull either.
When my 11whaler is at rest with a person inside it will take on water with the plug out. When the boats at rest with no one inside it will have a few inchs near the back of the boat. If I take the gas tank out of the boat it will float with out the plug and keep the floor bone dry.

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Author	Topic: 17', Float Without Drainplug
jay	posted 09-23-2003 07:36 PM ET (US) I think I read somewhere on here that the 11's and 13's don't need drainplug or bilge pump because the deck is above the waterline. You could leave them anchored in the water with the drainplug out and rainwater will just run out. Did I dream this? Is it supposed to work with the 17'? I tried it, and water kept pouring in, not draining out.
Tom W Clark	posted 09-23-2003 07:59 PM ET (US) Jay, This tquestion has been much debated but really, this is not a Yes or No kind of question. You are free to do as you please. Leaving the drain plug out will not sink the boat, but it will allow some water in and may in fact allow enough water in to begin to flood the deck a bit. You ask about a 17 footer but I assume you are referring to one of the 16' 7" hulls such as the Montauk model. Much will depend on how much motor, fuel and gear are on board but in general the sump area and the rigging tube will flood if the plug is left out. On my own Montauk with a 90 hp motor and a 6 hp kicker, there would be couple inches of water in the bottom of the boat of the plug were left out. No way I would leave the plug out under these circumstances. The one situation where it might make sense to leave the plug out in a 16' 7" model is if the boat were left unattended on a mooring or at a dock and left there without a cover in place. Heavy rain fall would drain out if the plug were not installed and you could always rest assured there was only so much water in the boat at any time. The down side of this is that marine growth will form in the rigging tube and sump area and on the deck as well if that area is below the waterline.
ryanwhaler	posted 09-23-2003 10:49 PM ET (US) Thats not 100% true with the 11'hull either. When my 11whaler is at rest with a person inside it will take on water with the plug out. When the boats at rest with no one inside it will have a few inchs near the back of the boat. If I take the gas tank out of the boat it will float with out the plug and keep the floor bone dry.