246 CCP question

[Kamikaze]

Hopefully someone here can help.  

After running my 82 246 CCP several times I am entertaining an idea.  I find that with more than one person in the stern ( landing a fish etc..) the scuppers flood and the deck becomes very wet across the stern.  I know it doesn't help that I have a Johnson V8 hanging from the stern, but the weight of that motor should be less than any two twins I can image.  

My questions is has anyone investigated moving the fuel tank forward to better balance the weight across the hull ( boat is very stern heavy right now).  Or does anyone have any pictures of 246 rebuild where the deck is exposed so I can see what would have to be modified?

Thanks

Kamikaze

[GoneFission]

This is pretty common with CCPs - put 2 people on a corner and you will get some water back through the scuppers.  Not a big deal, but it does make for a wet deck - but so does the washdown hose!  The V-8 is heavy, but the 246CCP is rated for 280HP, including twin 140s, so you should be well within the allowable transom weight.  

Moving the gas tank forward could be done, but it ain't easy.  It would probably be easier to add another tank under the coffin (that was a factory option), and use it as the main tank, with the rear one only partly filled as reserve or backup.  That would get the gas weight well forward.  

Do you still have the batteries in the back?  Moving the batteries up under the console might help quite a bit - also, do you use the rear livewell?  The batteries and livewell are both at the back - wrong place for that weight.  

Hope this helps - see ya on the water!

[jdupree]

I have the same happen on my 200 CCP.  I keep mine plugged from the inside while I am underway.  If I need to use the washdown just pull the plugs and put them back in.  If it is really rough and I am getting water splashing in the boat I keep them out.  If it gets like that I head in :!:

[DOCREED]

You could install a rubber flapper on the the outside of the hull.  this wont keep it all out but most of it.

[GoneFission]

I tried the rubber flapper idea on my CCP, but the outlet on CCPs is to the side, and the flapper was bent by the flow of water past the hull - didn't work.  

I guess you could reroute the drains through the transom - but that would be a different kind of mess...

[Kamikaze]

GoneFission

Understand, its a common problem in CCP  but up here during the winter, wet feet are not an option! (I know boots are cheap).  

Yes all three battery's are under the console and no I don't use the live well ( Actually I didn't know it was intended for that purpose until visiting here!  Talk about a bad design!).

Any idea how big the tank under the coffin locker option was?  

I'm looking at twins in the future and although the hull is rated for twin 140 there is no way I can add any weight back aft and still be happy.

Kamikaze

[GoneFission]

How big ya wanna go?  I don't know how big the aux tank on the 246 was, but John Jones has one on his 222CCP that I think is 38 gallons.  You could go with about any size you want...  

There is a ton of space between the deck and stringers under the coffin - that is basically just open space.  You would need to take the coffin off (easy - just 12 screws or  so hold it down), lift the coffin off, open the deck plate under the coffin, and see how big you want to go.  Once you decide, you will need to cut the deck to fit the tank, install/fabricate some structure on the stringers to hold the tank weight, install and plumb the tank, and reinstall the decking, with appropriate hatch features.  Not a huge job, and your gas capacity would go from your current 125 gallons to ????  I would suggest you consider something in the 50 gallon range.  You can get 50 gallon poly tanks pretty easily and inexpensively.  Given the choice, I would go with poly over aluminum - no corrosion problems and less weight.  I don't know how long your fishing trips are, but a 50 gallon belly tank would make a nice primary tank, then maybe keep 30 gallons or so in the rear tank for back-up reserve.  At 3 MPG, that gives you 240 miles range - more than most need, even for a couple days.  

If you want even more, consider maybe even 2 of the 50 gallon tanks (probably square) in the front, with valves for switching tanks.  That would give more range and flexibility while keeping the weight forward.  

Hope this helps - ideas, ideas, ideas...

[Kamikaze]

Gonefission:

Almost fellout of my chair laughing so hard.  On it's best day, with a lite load and a strong wind to it's back - that old V8 gets 1.5 - 1.6 MPG!   Maybe thats half the problem!

Thanks for the suggestions,  I'm going to go exploring under the coffin locker and see that can be done.  

Kamikaze

[GoneFission]

*&%$#@!!!!  1.6 MPG - that ain't so good  :cry:  :cry:  :cry:

Have you considered your own OPEC deal?  

My old Chris-Craft got 2 at slow speeds and 0.5 at high speeds, but it was a 32 footer with twin 215 inboards!  I really did not realize the OMC V-8 was such a gas hog.  You may be one of the few who can actually make sense out of a engine change from a dollars and cents standpoint.

[John Jones]

The JohnnyRude V-6s aren't much better