More lakes are having inspections now for that invasive mussels and just having a drop of water in your bilge, etc. will keep you out of the water.

I park my boats on a driveway that has a slight downhill grade to the street so when backing the boat into the driveway, the stern is not always lower than the bow even with the jack all the way up.  I now poke a small rope into the bilge plug hole as far as I can to help "wick" out any water still in the bilge.

Since my boat has a leak somewhere, it tries to take half the lake home with it. I don't make many friends this way, but I pull the drain plug while I'm still on the steep angle of the ramp. It will steady drain for 15 minutes. I think thats why i couldn't get my bow to come up. I thought for a while I was the only guy here that didn't want or need trim tabs. Anyway, back to the subject. I also put a few blocks of wood under the jack to bring the bow up so it gets a good complete dry. Last time I went out a couple sundays ago, It was raining. They couldn't fail me on inspection then! :biggrin:

So. Cali,

No bilge pump?

Pull that drain plug out when towing and install a taller trailer hitch!

Quote from: La-Z-Buoy on November 04, 2012, 08:46:43 AM
So. Cali,

No bilge pump?

Sorry, I guess i didn't add that part. I have a bilge pump, but last time I was out it got clogged up with crap that had made its way to the bilge. I had to do an emergency bilge pump fix at the dock. I got all the junk out of it, and pulled the wires apart while yanking it out, so it took me a good minute to get it fixed. Once it was fixed though, I ran it till it stopped pushing water, and ran it every half hour or so just to keep the bilge dry, but when I pulled it out of the water, it still drained probably 100 gallons out of there. came out like a good pressured garden hose for a solid 15 minutes. I'm thinking this was water from previous trips that got stuck in the bow. I never really put the nose up real high while stored at home.
BTW, this is my 500th post. I'm an official fisherman now! of course, if I did more actual fishing instead of fartin around on the computer, I would still be a fry.  :whistle:

In our area and in most states they now call it "Clean, Drain & Dry" and if your vessel is not clean and has dried for anywhere from 7 days to 21 days (depending on temperature) your vessel is not considered to be invasive free and the boat may be required to be pressure washed with 140 degree water inside and out. That includes the bilge and all compartments. Yes they want to charge $40 and more to wash your boat. This is becoming a hot topic in many states for sure!

One of our local counties passed a law last year that if you transport any invasive over the public roads you are subject to a fine of $500 to $2000 and possible jail time. Having you bilge draining as you go down the highway might cost you that fine. You must completely drain & clean your vessel prior to leaving the launch area. And you must arrive to the launch area with no bilge plug and the boat dry. The same county wants to install 6 boat washing stations around the lake at a cost of over 2 million dollars and make the boaters pay for them in boat wash fees. Yes it is a hot topic around here.

Now So. Cali, I would be inspecting your boat and making repairs before I used that boat very much in the future. I think you might be playing "Russian Roulette" with a boat from what you posted. Yes an Arima should always float but they still can flounder out on the water and end up dead in the water without power or possibly capsize due to conditions and having too much water in the vessel. I would not subject my family or myself to such possibilities when I knew I had a problem with my boat.

FE, I am in the process of trying to re-seal the transom, and find any other leaks. I was thinking about putting the plug in it and fill it up with the hose to see where it is leaking from. If this is a bad Idea, tell me. If it's a good idea. . . tell me.

Pay close attention to the rub rail. Others, including Belinda, have stated the need to recaulk that area on a timely basis. Understand it has been a source of water into the bilge on many boats ... cure is resealing.  Search (I think) for instructions..

Woody

The first boat I bought was a 18.5 ft. North River Sea Hawk (aluminum).  I brought it home and started looking it over.  I removed the inspection plate on the off shore bracket.  I found I could see the welds on the inside of the off shore bracket with the aid of a flash light and a mirror.  After much prompting and pleading I got my wife to spray the garden hose against the outside welds while I watched with the mirror and flashlight on the inside.  I found a leak  
The leak was above the water line and in a corner of the weld.  :nono:

I called up North River and told them my boat had a leak.  I was asked where the leak was and I told them.  The person on the other end of the phone told me this was above the water line and how I was sure it was leaking.
I told him I was reading the warranty on the hull and wanted to know if it was a leaky boat so I jacked up the tires and blocked them off the ground.  I then filled the boat full of water with a garden hose  
I told the guy my boat was peeing water onto my driveway.
I experienced a long awkward moment of silence over the phone  
I ended up speaking first and told him I was just kidding.  The guy from North River never did laugh and I had the impression he did not think filling the boat full of water was a good idea  :hoboy:

Seriously though:  I would think you could put some water in your boat but I would not put so much water that it starts putting pressure against the sides.  It sounds like you already have inadvertently been putting water in your boat and towing it around that way.
Penquin

That's how I find leaks in my waders.  Speaking of which, there is a great deal on USA made (St. Helens, OR) waders on iFish.

StreamFixer

Woody, I know the rub rails have been mentioned, but she takes on water without getting a good splash, like sitting at a dock. My main guess is its the plug bung. Im trying to fight it out to re-seal it. Plus, how does that much water stay in the bilge without the pump getting it?

OK, hear you.

Woody