Problem Draining the Bilge

[RZMike]

Anyone else have a problem getting all the water out of the bilge? After looking at the rear of the boat (as in the picture) I can see why. The drain hole isn't centered at the lowest point. Therefore even with the trailer jack all the way up, I'll never be able to get all the water out.

So here's my question/s. Why is the drain over to the port side? Anyone else have the same problem? Can I add another drain where it should be? It looks like there's room, but I'm wondering if I'm missing something. There has to be a reason it was installed like that.

[David]

I don't think it matters what side it would be if it wasnt in the middle but with the taps and exhaust taking up much of the middle (besides inbetween them) where else would you put it. I'm sure there is a reason why its not directly above the taps plate or under the boat. Tomorrow I'll be out with our family friends new Wakesetter and I'll look on that where the hole is and also on another persons '01 22i.

But now that you brought it up and neither I or you have an explanation, it makes me think also. I'll ask the slalom shop (local tige dealer) tomorrow...

[RZMike]

Appreciate the help - I would think it should be between the exhausts, over the taps plate. That's the best spot for the water to drain out. I looked down there yesterday, looks like there's plenty of room. I'm not sure about structural integrity though.

[David]

If you don't have the answer yet, My dad and I will be picking up the boat to take home and I'll stop inside the dealer and ask about it. I should be able to get it tonight but if not tomorrow morning I'll have it.

[smendez]

From our 2003 22V

[RZMike]

Ah, so it can be done - Thanks smendez

[Ruune]

My 2004 22v has it in the middle as well. I dont know how far you tow your boat after you put it on the trailer, but you might want to leave the plug out while you're on the road. Alternatively, pull the plug out and let the boat sit on an incline for a few minutes.

[knighb2]

In my '99 21v there is also a drain hole in the bottom center of the boat (in front of the transmission). If you pull this plug you can get all of the water out. But you need to take the back seat out to get at it. Usually there isn't too much water in there anyway.

[RZMike]

knighb2 - I'll have to look and see if I have one of those plugs. I don't recall seeing one, but that doesn't mean it's not there.

Ruune - I always pull the plug on the ramp and leave it out, but there's still and inch or two of water that remains. When I got home from the lake last night, I put a concrete block under the jack so I could get the trailer tongue up higher. I got it high enough that the prop guard was on the ground. A little more water came out, but I still can't get all the water out.

[RZMike]

Maybe I should explain why I'm fussing over this whole subject....

I realize there's always a little bit of water left after pulling the plug. My old boat always had some, but it was very minimal and evaporated in a day or so. With 1-2 inches of water in my 23V I'm having corrosion and mildew problems in the engine compartment. If not removed, the water will stand in the bilge for months. This year, I've been using a wet vac to get the water out when I get home. However, this solution is a pain in the ____ .

As you can see from the picture, the current location of the bilge drain is about 2 inches above the bottom of the boat. I could probably stand the boat on it's end and not get all the water out. :D

I don't know if the factory put the plug there or if it was put there by a dealer, but it's a bad location. It doesn't look like anyone else has the same problem. It may be specific to my boat. I guess I'll just try and put one in the center were it should be and see how it goes.

[Matt Garcia]

Mike, my drain is in the same spot. I don't know if it is just for 01 models or just 23Vs.

I encounter the same as you but my solution is to leave the bilge on when loading the boat on the trailer at the end of day. Just leave the bilge on the whole time you are coming up the ramp and on to a level surface. The incline of the ramp and the forward motion sends any remaining water to the transom of the boat and to be sucked out by the bilge. I also leave the plug in, I dont take it out until I am done cleaning the boat out. Try it out, I always have a dry bilge area when I am done. Any remaining moisture is dried out by the heat of the engine.

[knighb2]

You always get a little water in the bilge, but a couple of inches of water? That seems extreme. Maybe you should not worry so much about how to get it out, but fix the problem at the root. Stop the water from getting in! If you have a leak that is allowing that much water in you should probably fix it anyway.

[RZMike]

Matt - thanks for the idea, I hadn't thought of that one. I'll try it next time.

knighb2 - your right, I am going about this backwards. I'm getting water in because the packing needs to be adjusted. I've got the wrench, I've just got to adjust it. I get to the lake and the family's ready to ride, so I always put it off :D

Even with the packing adjusted I'm still going to get some water - right? I guess that's why I was concerned with getting it out.

Thanks to all who replied. I appreciate all the help and suggestions.

[blr]

RZ mike, in my opinion you should solve the water issue first but not by tightening the seal. I would jst do it once and replace it with a PSS seal. you can find out info on them by doing a search for PSS. It is a water tight (internally) seal. If you choose to tighten your seal (at least in my experience) it will become something you will have to do quite often (every other time out) and then you will replace it and have a year or so (100+ hours) of not so much leaking and then it will be bakc to the always tightening game. put in a pss and never worry about it again. jst my .02.

[wolfpack]

Just run your bilge pump. It'll get all the water out.

[RZMike]

blr - I'll check into the PSS shaft. I don't think it's in the budget right now, but I'll keep it in mind.

wolfpack - running the bilge pump doesn't get all the water out. At least not on level ground. I'm going to try running the pump on the ramp as Matt suggested and see if that works.

[scootc]

I know the original post is old, but I stumbled on a good way to completely drain the bilge last weekend.
I parked the boat in the street with the right side trailer wheels up on the curb. This puts the drain plug at the lowest point and level with the ground. Then put a block under the jack and cranked the bow all the way up.

[Bgercone]

I have currently purchase a new 04 22V in October this year and never have a drop of water. I go out on the boat 2 - 3 times a week. The boat I traded in for the Tige would have to be bilged a couple of times each time out on it. I must have had a leak. I assume you must have one RZMike.:confused:

[RZMike]

Originally posted by Bgercone
I have currently purchase a new 04 22V in October this year and never have a drop of water. I go out on the boat 2 - 3 times a week. The boat I traded in for the Tige would have to be bilged a couple of times each time out on it. I must have had a leak. I assume you must have one RZMike.:confused:

Yes, I had a leak. Packing was too loose. I fixed that. The reason you don't get any water in the bilge with your 04 22V is because you have a PSS shaft. It doesn't drip. My 01 23V doesn't have the PSS, so it has to drip water every few seconds or the shaft will burn up.

Since trying Matt's method of draing the bilge at the end of the day, I don't have any problems anymore. I'm sure scootc's method would work to, but I don't have a local 'curb' to use :D

[spharis]

Yes I know I am digging up an old thread, but I wanted to add to this thread as I had read it when reading through a while back.

The offset plugs are actually at the lowest point. In the rear of the bilge, there is a hump that makes that spot the lowest. There is then a grove that runs around this hump from the drain to right behind the drive shaft. I was checking it out today while I was in there.

[gman]

Looks like some boats have two pistons and others have one on the taps system. Any reason Why?

[Graham Morris]

old taps had two hydraulic the new taps2 has one mechanical ram

[gman]

Thanks Why did they change to one from two?

[spharis]

Went from 2 to 1 actually.

I know I have 2 and I can buy replacement rams from any boat parts supplier.

[hoopykat]

I have 2 plugs on my '03 20i...one pretty much where yours is, and another in the bottom of the boat in the middle....accessed by lifting the engine cover. It has a T-style handle and actually drains the bilge dry better than the transom plug. It's awkward to turn with the confined space and my bulk, but it works well. I can post a picture this week, if need be.

I don't know if other Tige models without the separate engine cover or different engine mount location have this drain.

Mike

[Graham Morris]

The advertising at the time I got mine said the taps 2 with single ram gave greater range for the Taps plate

[Bog]

that is just one of our 21V favorite engineering feats. The other is the 2001 tower! It makes having the drain in the wrong place seem okay!!!

[spharis]

At least a tower was an option when you bought. The only option on mine was a skylon.

[gman]

spharis.... what I said was ...."why did they change to one from two". You said ...."went from 2 to 1 actually". Isn't this the same?

[spharis]

I am either dyslexic or you type like yoda.....one of the two thinks I.

[dogbert]

Let's not mince words and focus on the problem at hand :D

[Tequilasun]

I have a headache now!

"It's not a Tuuumooor"

[EZ-DZ]

PSS is the way to go . . . but if you still get a little water in there, just use a siphon tube (that you pump a few times) and it'll get the rest of it out. You can pick up a siphon tube for $5 at most hardware or auto supply stores.

[R&T Babich]

Our 2000 21V has the same offset drain plug in the transom and a second drain plug in the center near the V-drive. The center plug is also used when draining the engine oil with the oil pan drain hose kit. On our boat the oil pan drain hose kit was either dealer installed or a factory option. When you lay the oil pan drain hose down in the bilge the hose will just fit thru the center drain a couple of inches - like it was made for it. I slide one of those black oil change jugs with the raised sides under the hose. Takes an hour if the oil is cold. I probably could hook up one those dipstick pump units to the hose and it would get it all.

[Wake Havasu]

Problem draining your bilge.

As you get older you may need:

http://www.supersavermeds.com/flomax/floMax.jpg