Taking on water after heavy rain

[Quiggers73]

I have noticed after a heavy rain, there's a lot of water that sits in the boat.

I leave the auto bailer open thinking the flotation was eventually drain the cockpit.

And for the most part that works. But when it reaches the point of weight of water keeping the bailer submerged, then it doesn't drain and I have to drive down to the club and bail it myself.

Any ideas of why this could be...I would imagine it should self bail, and I know the floating ball will float up at rest and close the hole.

What should I be looking at here ???

[Alan]

I could be wrong, but I've always assumed that self-bailers require forward motion of the boat to create a venturi effect under the boat that sucks the water out - that's why the original Depersia bailer and some aftermarket replacements have a streamlined-looking panel over the underside of the bailer.

Also, might be worth checking to see if the ball is actually there. Mine went missing sometime before I got the boat.

[RaleighRancher]

Correct, the self-bailer only works when under way, and only then at sufficient speed. When the boat is still, it keeps the water under the boat from coming in, but will also limit water from draining out.

I believe you are supposed to leave the drain plug inside your transom open when leaving the boat at dock and expecting rain. It's high enough that not much water should wash in from astern, and low enough to limit accumulation from within the cockpit in the event of rain. A shallow puddle on top of the sole is all you'll get. When returning to the boat, pop the plug back in, set the sails and head off, then open up the self-bailer.

[Quiggers73]

I was doing that, but where it was would keep the drain below the waterline and negate draining.

I wonder if placing something inside the autobailer to keep the ball off the hole would help in the case of heavy rain, then when its time to go sail, pull it and let the autobailer work while underway.

I know the bailer drain sits above the waterline when dry...as I never plug it and never have any water apart from heavy heavy rains.

I will check to see how much water is in the bilge that could be contributing to sitting lower..I do need to re-silicone the seals, to be sure they are sealing properly.

[RaleighRancher]

Interesting. In mine, the upper drain plug definitely sits above the waterline, even when there are people and an outboard aboard.

[GreenLake]

Interesting. In mine, the upper drain plug definitely sits above the waterline, even when there are people and an outboard aboard.

The difference could be water in the bilge (between the hulls.

[Quiggers73]

How would I best determine that's the culprit?

There is water in the bilge...

I will reseal the inspection ports, good silicone lube.

How can I tell if its coming in from somewhere else ?

[GreenLake]

When the boat is moving, from the CB uphaul. Read up on that and the "nipple" fix in archived discussions here. If stationary some models have a CB pivot that can leak. Others don't. From the cockpit via leaking ports or cracks is an option. Perhaps a leaking bailer?

Unlikely as it might seem, a crack in the hull or a leaking drain plug are theoretical options as well.

But unless you drain the bilge regularly, some sources would end up swamping and sinking the boat, except if yours has pool noodles or such under the seats instead of just air.

Leaks below the waterline can sometimes be located by putting the boat on a trailer and gently filling the bilge to check for drips. Cracks can be like valves though and only work in one direction. And it's easy to damage the boat if your trailer doesn't provide enough support for the weed weight of the water in the bilge.

Happy hunting.