posted 01-07-2005 08:59 AM ET (US)            

When you put the engine all the way down, is it in fact going all the way down or do you have a pin inserted in of the the five sets of holes so that the engine can be manually trimmed?

How high does the bow get when you are getting on a plane? Can you still see the horizon while seated?

posted 01-07-2005 09:28 PM ET (US)            

It is a 1975 hull. I have no idea of its history. When I did put it in the water for the first time, the waterline at the transom was over the transom splash well drains. Should there be plugs in those holes? Should they be above the waterline?

I only had 10 gallons of gas back there and a battery, so it wasn't overloaded. Maybe the hull is waterlogged. I noticed a 1/2-inch pipe plug near the bottom of the transom. I'm afraid to open it and watch a waterfall come out.

It did seem like water was deflecting off of the front of the motor. When I did operate it with the motor trimmed all the way down, the bow wasn't too high and it seemed to run well. It topped out at 26-MPH, which seems slow. There's no tachometer.

It sounds like the motor is mounted too high. Where should the anti-ventilation plate be in relation to the bottom of the hull?

posted 01-07-2005 09:36 PM ET (US)            

I own a 1974 Outrage 19, almost the same boat you have. And your story just does not make any sense to me.

You say that the first time you launched the boat, the waterline was over the drain holes. Why just the "first" time? Did that subsequently change?

What is this 1/2" pipe plug you are talking about?

What do you mean you had 10 gallons in the back? Two five gallon cans? Are you not using the internal 40 gallon tank?

Was water coming in the boat because it was deflecting off of the motor or because it was "pouring" over the top of the transom? Water came in even with the bow being relatively parallel to the horizon?

Why does the boat have no tach?

If this is a genuine story then it is remarkable. A picture would tell 1000 words....

posted 01-08-2005 04:17 AM ET (US)            

before you decide to junk the hull a couple of questions and some pictures would help.
1. At rest with the engine tilted down does water enter the drains in the splash well?

2. does it enter the drains if you have the engine tilted up?

3. What hole is the motor mounted in? Level with the transom or up one hole?

4. Can you take pictures of the boat in the water so we can see where the waterline is and take a friend with you and see if you can get shots of the water pouring over?

5. What condition are the thru hull drains? Are they in good shape or are they gone and your looking at foam or somthing in the middle.

To answer the question do you have water in the hull,probably but if she got up on plane, I wouldn't worry too much about it. You probably need to replace the drains and check any caulking and any screws or screwholes in the deck as that is a good source for water.

posted 01-08-2005 06:55 AM ET (US)            

But on the other hand you say that the drains were below the waterline? Is that when the boat was halfway in the water but still on the trailer?

You should be able to pull every plug in that boat and get no water on the deck. That boat should be completely self-bailing. So get those plastic bags out of the two drain holes just above the waterline in the transom, open up the one at the bottom of the transom (if a "waterfall" comes out is is just because you are empying the live bait well), and take the plug out that is in front of the ledge that separates the large splashwell area from the rest of the boat (just starboard of the centerline). Open them all up. The boat will not sink.

You should be going close to 40 mph WOT if the engine is performing properly.

posted 01-08-2005 04:08 PM ET (US)            

Answers:
When I first backed it into the water, the motor was tilted up and the stern was just starting to float but the bow end was still somewhat on the trailer so that might have contributed to the stern being down. I just saw water coming into the drain holes so I jumped in the truck and hauled her out, bailed and then plugged the holes. The drain holes look intact, no obvious cracks.

David you're correct that water was coming up the engine column.

I need to take her out and try some of your suggestions. It seems like from what you're all saying, that the motor is too low.

posted 01-08-2005 06:14 PM ET (US)            

The internal tank is midship. You can see screws in the deck holding down the access to it. It is six or eight feet long and about two feet wide. It will need to be replaced if it has not already been replaced. That is not a big deal, either.

As for water coming in the two drains at the waterline, that will definitely happen when you have the bow of the boat still on the trailer. That is normal. Keep those drains open.

My 19' was in the water for 30 years and had holes all over it and it had "soggy" foam where the copper drain tubes had deteriorated and it still floats like a cork with no plugs in it anywhere. So I am willing to bet that your boat is fine and that you just need to raise the engine two or three holes to stop that water from splashing in. But don't drill any new holes in the transom to accomplish that. Use a setback plate if necessary.