Self bailing question

[Dave D]

I am a new aquasport owner and a new member to this great site. I have an 87' 17 striper with self bailing cocpit. I noticed during my first trip out last Sunday that water flows in more than I thought it would. My questions are, should this happen and if I am out in calm water could I plug these access ports and remone the plugs when things get rough?
Thank you for any info I can get.

D

[Scotta1973]

I am not sure if it is supposed to do that or not but you could try these

https://www.surplusunlimited.com/Mercha ... de=1700-65  


If the link doesn't work you can search "Flow-Max Ball Scupper" on google and that will get you to the same spot.

[JimCt]

Too much weight in the back of the boat.

[Dave D]

I guess some better scuppers should do the trick. Thanks for the info.
The old owner told me a little water has flowed in from the first day he owned the boat and it was new. The boat is a 87' Striper with a 98' 90hp Johnson.  I think I might need to lay off the extra burger..
D

[Straight A's]

I have the ping pong ball type scuppers on mine and it does tend to reduce the water coming in...  I think you can get them at most boating stores.

[Miguel]

Hello, Dave:
I have the same boat and the same problem.  I replaced the rubber flapper valves, but it didn´t help much.  If you look back, you will see a thread I started on this subject.
I still have not tried the little ball type scuppers, but it will be my next choice.   Have not done it as the will interfere with my swim platform, which will need some modification.   Another one, since I had to cut out a chunck in order to fit my new trim tab actuators......
I currently run with the scuppers plugged on quiet lakes, bays and so on.
When things get rough the plugs come out because  I rather have some water on my feet but be sure that there is some self bailing capability in there.
As an added precaution, I also have two pumps with 2300gph nominal pumping capacity in the bilge.....

[Dave D]

Thank you for all of the info,I will plug the scuppers for now.  I only boat in tidal rivers, small harbors and bays.
Dave

[Bluesbrother]

Hi all,
I do have the ball scuppers and they are awesome. I relocated my drains since I replaced the deck and made it flush to the transom, I have ine at that height, and I have one in the cable gutter that goes to the CC. They flush out any water in a matter of seconds and they do not let any water in. You just hve to make sure the ball doesn't get obstructed by debris or little nuts or bolts. (don't ask me found out in time)

[Anonymous]

This reminds me... With the self bailing scuppers (and I have the ping pong ball set up) if water in the bilge were to get too high (i.e. the pump failed), would it just rise and flow out of the scuppers? Just wondering, as I tend to obsess about the bilge pump ( I know, I know...get a life), it's just my hang up.

[Bluesbrother]

It will only work there when there is no pressure from outside.(the boat is on land or you are speeding along) But I have to say that I have not seen any ball scuppers on bilge access ever.. If somehow something gets stuck between the ball and the housing your bilge will fill up and sink your boat. It seems quite dangerous to me, but maybe some others can chime in here.... My scuppers are all above deck access, if something should fail, you would notice right away.

[Anonymous]

No they are not on the bilge, they are in the transom. I just wondered because there are drians into the bilge in the well below the motor. That's why I was wondering if any build up of water would just drain out of the scuppers.

[JimCt]

Blues is right; ball scuppers are designed only for deck drains and are not suitable or safe as "automatic" bilge drains.  If a piece of weed or even a grain of sand gets lodged in the seal you will start filling with water.  Play it safe & stay with the pipe plug drain the boat came with.