Wiring and drain issues on my 1995 225 CC

[DBRYAN]

Hi Folks,

Well the boat will float and the motor is sweet, but I have some issues I need to address to make me feel like I have everything working OK.

1) I have two inlet holes in the bottom of the boat. I am assuming those are for raw water wash down and filling the livewell. Correct?

2) Neither seem to be working or are so quiet I can't hear the motors. I guess I am going to have to take it to the ramp, put the back end in the water and flip the switches on. Hopefully I'll get water in the tank and the wash down will also work.

3) The fish box is the one that worries me. With the motor on it drains slowly (macerator?), but then my auto bilge kicked on to pump the water out from the box. Shouldn't this go directly out the side and not be pumped out through the bilge?

4) I can't activate the bilge manually. I am running a new wire but the hatch is so small I cannot get my head in it to see what I am doing. I am thinking about cutting a hole on the other side (outside) and install a hatch plate so that I can see down there. Can anyone suggest another method for getting underneath the tank or is that not necessary?

Thanks,

David.

[RickK]

Hi Folks,

Well the boat will float and the motor is sweet, but I have some issues I need to address to make me feel like I have everything working OK.

1) I have two inlet holes in the bottom of the boat. I am assuming those are for raw water wash down and filling the livewell. Correct?

You have access to your bilge correct?  You should certainly be able to get to the ballcock handles on the thru-hulls in case you needed to shut them off.  Once you find them, from there you should be able to find the pumps - maybe even on top of the thru-hull piping - mine was. Should be able to trace them to where they go.  If you don't have ballcocks on them you definitely need to add some.  Someone installed a plastic one on mine which broke off when I tried unscrew it to replace it.  Maybe check Boaters World for some since they're discounting everything while they exit the market.  Someone told me that West marine bought them too - anyone else hear that?

2) Neither seem to be working or are so quiet I can't hear the motors. I guess I am going to have to take it to the ramp, put the back end in the water and flip the switches on. Hopefully I'll get water in the tank and the wash down will also work.

Like my bilge pump, they're so quiet that you have to touch them to see if they're vibrating to show they're on.

3) The fish box is the one that worries me. With the motor on it drains slowly (macerator?), but then my auto bilge kicked on to pump the water out from the box. Shouldn't this go directly out the side and not be pumped out through the bilge?

I would hope that the box drains over the side on a permanent box.  The fish box in my 230 is removable and I think it originally drained right into the bilge.  The previous owner used the fishbox to hold fresh water and had a hose attached from the drain to a small pump going to a hand-held shower.  I don't see any plumbing to indicate mine ever went any place but the bilge nor do I see any unused holes in the side of the boat.

4) I can't activate the bilge manually. I am running a new wire but the hatch is so small I cannot get my head in it to see what I am doing. I am thinking about cutting a hole on the other side (outside) and install a hatch plate so that I can see down there. Can anyone suggest another method for getting underneath the tank or is that not necessary?

Thanks,

David.

That answers my question to #1.  You will probably have to enlarge the hatch.

[DBRYAN]

That answers my question to #1. You will probably have to enlarge the hatch.

How about a round hatch plate on the other side? It might be easier to get to and I can't see if structure would be an issue... But if that hatch was an inch wider...LOL

The alternative is to pull the batteries and go in through that way.

I would hope that the box drains over the side on a permanent box.

It's permanent and even has a switch on the dash, but man it took 5 minutes to drain the water from it that's why I started thinking it might be a macerator or something similar on it....or maybe a very worn out motor.

There is a second bilge hole. I have been thinking I might leave the auto bilge as is and install a second bilge pump as a backup.

Thoughts?

[RickK]

How about a round hatch plate on the other side? It might be easier to get to and I can't see if structure would be an issue... But if that hatch was an inch wider...LOL

The "other side" is confusing me - other side of what?  Is this a transom fishwell?  Pics would help.

The alternative is to pull the batteries and go in through that way.

I'm not familiar with the model you have - where is SeaBob when we need him, probably lolly gagging around over at ReelBoating.com    

I would hope that the box drains over the side on a permanent box.

It's permanent and even has a switch on the dash, but man it took 5 minutes to drain the water from it that's why I started thinking it might be a macerator or something similar on it....or maybe a very worn out motor.

Could just be plugged up.

There is a second bilge hole. I have been thinking I might leave the auto bilge as is and install a second bilge pump as a backup. Thoughts?

have you looked down in the 2nd access?  It's not the one to the fuel tank is it?
Pics, we need pics please.

[DBRYAN]

I'll get some pics tonight.  :alien:

[DBRYAN]

Rick,

as it turns out Ebay has a boat with the same hull configuartion as mine.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... OTORS:1123

Picture 6 shows the area I am talking about. He has a rod holder and something else there next to the motor. That is where I was thinking of adding a hatch plate.

What do you think?

[RickK]

Ok, it is a transom well.  You could cut a BIG access panel in back there.

[DBRYAN]

Good to know.  

[RickK]

Have you looked to see what is inside there though?  Has anyone?  I'd definitely poke around before I cut though (I'm sure you will).  I was just saying that you have plenty of room on the engine side it seems .

[DBRYAN]

There is plenty of room in the port side, but on the starboard side there are the batteries and battery switch so that would be avoided, though I thought about removing the tackle box to see if it would help. It think it is too high to be oarctical.