Maritime skiff question

[pogiefisher]

I know maritime skiff get water in the hulls and cause the boat to be heavy/makes water come into the boat through the scuppers.. does anyone know how to prevent this? or is it just the way the boats are made. Also anyone know how to test for water besides putting them in the water and seeing how they float?
Thanks

[VTJim]

Pogiefisher,

I don't know the details of the Maritime skiff, but I solved a similar issue on a Boston Whaler Dauntless by sealing the scupper drains with "test plugs" that you can find at Home Depot or Lowe's, and installing a small bilge pump in the hull cavity. Solved the wet boat issue! :)

[Joe Hale]

I have a skiff that runs a bit wet if more than one person is in it. Mine is a ?2010. I think the newer models are higher and not an issue.

I don't like blocking my scuppers, particularly if I am alone in the boat. If I take a wave over the stern, I want to concentrate on getting underway, not on pulling scuppers plugs.

I cut in a 6 inch deck plate, dug out the foam below it, and installed a bilge pump in the lowest part I could get to. Ran a quarter inch hose out thru the cable tunnel and dumped it out thru the cutout. Keeps the boat high and dry at the slip, and with just me on the boat. If instead I'm on a sunset cruise with people on the boat, I plug the scupper holes up. I used the kind of pump that tries to run on a time delay and keeps running if pulling current.

I've long since forgiven Maritime for designing so close and anyway my feet always seem to stay dry, its only other people that get wet.

[mctrout]

Put 1 plug in and use the pig pong ball scuppers as well. That transom is high enough that you could put both the plugs in anyway

[Joe Hale]

Yea. I have the ping-pongs on two holes. I have a middle hold under the engine that I keep plugged because I can't get the ping-pong to fit under the engine mounts. Also, the new motor's biggest zinc bolted right across the hole! Cut a chunk out of the middle of the zinc.

Seems like the ping-pongs are a great improvement over the stupid little flappers that didn't do ****.


I realize that I never answered the original question.

I used to pull the tunnel drain every time I was out and up on plain. Difficult to do when alone. Got tired of the hassle, so started trying to find a leak and tried to dry out the foam more. The whole idea (it seems to me) of a foamed boat is as a friend said "you don't want to know whats going on down there". I ride higher now that I keep the foam drier with the little pump installed. No biggy, but then mine is a 1997 boat; I suspect that the newer ones ride higher.

And, by the way, I'm always keeping my skiff. Maybe I'll get another bigger or deep V, but the skiff is just perfect for bombing around in the harbor.

[Kuskus68]

I completely filled my Maritime on a downward face of a wave! filled the boat gun it out of the wave pulled plugs and drained boat very close call did not loose life or gear it was sick!!!They are great boats for what they are designed for!!