Scupper question ?

[puff tentacle]

I have a 1985 17 ft osprey that I purchased last season.  One day last October we had a pretty good rain storm and my boat almost sunk.  The boat had water all the way up onto the bow compartments.  It was a big pain in the Butt, my outboard was half way under the water(cowling half way underwater).  Me and five guys had to put ropes on the engine and lift ,then threw a pump in.  It took alot to get that engine running again.  I had come to learn that my float switch on the bilge was bad.  I had that problem addressed last week and just put the boat in the water on Monday. What I noticed is that with my 2002 90Hp outboard, the boat sits really low in the stern and the whole self bailing thing is kind of defeated.   I was told when I boat the boat is that when you leave the boat , you leave the boat plugs out so the water can self bail and then when you go back into the boat you put the plugs in and when you plane out the boat you pull the plugs to let the water run then re-plug. When I first arrive to my boat and jump in to put the plugs in, the water comes in do to my weight in the stern. Does this sound right?  I personally think my scuppers should be up alittle higher.  Right now its pouring out and I am so nervous that I am going to leave work and go check the boat.  Am I going to have to fear this all season long?   Any suggestions?  I even put a bag of sand in the bow compartment to try and way down the bow a bit.     Any advice from anyone that has or have had this boat would be appreciated.  Thank You

[redemn93]

http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product ... 3933363930

dont settle for the imitators.  make sure they are TH marine.  They wont keep every drop out but reduce water coming in by 80-90%.  

the reason why the scuppers are below the water is the the boat is heavier than when it left the factory.  guaranteed there is water in the flotation foam and possible stringer.  if the floor is soft its heavier too.  this is common and pretty much 100% expected with these older aquasports.  that just how it is.  nothing to worry about that part.  

if you really want to make sure the boat doesnt sink, put a second bilge pump on the deck with a float switch.  confine it all to a small piece of plywood so its easily storable and out of the way when you are using the boat.  just hang a hose overboard secure to something so it doesnt fall back into the boat.  use a quality alligator clamp and connect straight to the battery.   will take less than one minute to setup and undo when you get back to the boat.

make sure you put it at the lower part of the back by the transom.  the hose can be secured to a cleat with a bungee to make it easy enough.

[puff tentacle]

redemn, thank you and I forgot to mention that I just installed those exact scuppers two weeks ago.   Is it an option in the off season to fill in the old scupper holes and put new holes in alittle higher.

[RickK]

Is the 90 a 4-stroke?  That year of boat was rated at 130hp so even the difference between a newer model 2-stroke 90 and a '85 130 should be about the same but if its a 4-stroke then it's too heavy for the boat and will put the scuppers under,
If it's a 2-stroke then I would take what he ^ said as a good possibility..

[CLM65]

Raising the scuppers may help keep water out, but it will also keep water in.  The scuppers need to be no higher than the deck to function properly.  If you are going to raise the scuppers, you might as well plug them and make it a non-self bailing boat (not that I am recommending doing that).

[redemn93]

i wouldnt store a non self bailer in the water.  

something else you can do is move the battery forward under the console if it isnt yet.  i dont know where they are from the factory on that boat.

Rick makes a good point also.

[wingtime]

All VERY good advice so far.  The batteries in my 1987 170 are in the console.  Even tossing something heavy into the casting deck storage lockers will help move the CG forward a bit. Heck toss a bag of sand up there or keep a heavy anchor in the anchor locker.

I have the TH marine Scuppers on my 170 and they really help.  The only time they really leak is if a leaf gets stuck in there.  

As already mentioned raising the scuppers wont help since it will prevent the deck from self bailing.

[Mcdiver]

If your scuppers are on the side of the boat, the th marine units are a bad idea.  I put a set on my 200ccp and they caused a lot of drag.  But I did have a cool rooster tail on each side of the boat.  My problem is a soaked transome.  Now that I have replaced the power head, transome is next on my list, after my pilots certificate.