Just bought a 1997 215DC. I have questions

[rsharpe83]

I am the proud new owner of a 1997 215DC powered by a 2002 225 Optimax.  It was my neighbors and he is the only owner.  Boat is in excellent shape.  The cushions were used for the second time when he sold it to me!  Anyway, he didnt seem real knowledgeable about the fishbox/baitwell/washdown pump setup.  The fish boxes seem pretty useless to me for this size boat.  Does anyone feel like a "master" with this setup?  Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks.

[GoneFission]

Welcome RS!  We have several 215 members here, and I'm sure somebody will be able to answer your questions.  Is this your boat?

[rsharpe83]

That's her.  She's been stored inside her entire life.

[Capt. Bob]

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[pigbike]

You will find the fish boxes fill up with rain and have to be pumped out. Also the deck drains back at the engine well are terrible. They never drain out due to poor design and location of the drain itself. Whoever designed the deck drains and fishboxes must of been still in 1st. grade at the time.

I like mine except for the drainage issue. My fishbox pump is really just a shower pumpout pump and the filter gets plugged up with the trash in the fish box. I will replace it with the correct pump one day. If you trailer the boat you can unhook the fishbox drains and let them drain into the bilge, and then the rain will drain out the rear drain. I wouldn't use them as fishboxes then or all the fish slime and blood will be in the bilge. You can't use them as dry storge either due to rain. Like I said poor design.

[Circle Hooked]

Welcome and congrats on the new boat, that thing should fly with a 225  

[rsharpe83]

Soooo, the consensus opinion is that the fish boxes are pretty much nothing more than a pain in the tail.  I must agree.  Thanks for all the input.  We're taking her to PCB, FL for the Thanksgiving holidays.  Hopefully we will be able to catch enough to be able to gripe about the size of the fishboxes.  I will post some pics after the trip.

[pigbike]

We will be waiting on those photos.