Rain Sinking Boat ?

CMorg · 05-15-10, 04:48 PM

Have any of you been anywhere close to having to much rain for a bilge to keep up with ? I am just curious , since ive been fishing in rain lately. How much is too much ?

nofearengineer · 05-15-10, 05:25 PM

I have been in one brief downpour last year where the rain was coming down faster than the bilge pump could take it out. It was that awful T-storm at Patoka I got stuck in.

However, most bassboats these days have the closed cell foam in the hulls where they would not sink to the bottom even if you filled them with water. They might just sort of bob around barely breaking the surface.

CMorg · 05-15-10, 07:18 PM

Their calling for around 1" of rain tomorrow in 5 of the 8 hours of our tournament. If its not a nasty nasty storm , I will fish it. I just wondered what everyones thoughts were on this subject.

bamabassman · 05-15-10, 11:18 PM

Don't worry bout it cmorg. 1 inch ain't gonna do much. Your pump will get it out.

CamG · 05-16-10, 09:13 AM

Wouldn't worry about it much. We fished a tournament back in 2001 where we had downpours off and on, all day long. I believe I was in an older Champion, and the bilge just wouldn't do it by itself. We kept fishing of course, and I distinctly remember seeing water come to within 3" of the deck...we kept fishing. It actually didn't seem to affect the boat at all.

Embrey · 05-16-10, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nofearengineer

I have been in one brief downpour last year where the rain was coming down faster than the bilge pump could take it out. It was that awful T-storm at Patoka I got stuck in.

However, most bassboats these days have the closed cell foam in the hulls where they would not sink to the bottom even if you filled them with water. They might just sort of bob around barely breaking the surface.

my boat wont sink,but it will get deep enough that the carbs are under water and i have to troll from then on. the only usable floor was the front deck,and took 2 hrs to get it all out. i had to troll to the bank and use the power trim to raise the back of the boat on a rock to get the bilge hole above water so it would pump. also had to use tackle box lids to bail water while getting slightly shocked from the batteries being under water. not much fun at 12 AM. this wasnt from rain though,but you get the idea...

Embrey · 05-16-10, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nofearengineer

I have been in one brief downpour last year where the rain was coming down faster than the bilge pump could take it out. It was that awful T-storm at Patoka I got stuck in.

However, most bassboats these days have the closed cell foam in the hulls where they would not sink to the bottom even if you filled them with water. They might just sort of bob around barely breaking the surface.

and are you talking about the day it rained like 6 inches? if so, i went on purpose that day...lol. mine didnt have any problem keeping up with it.

nofearengineer · 05-17-10, 12:30 AM

It was the day there was a big FLW event there...7/25/09. The rain came out of nowhere. I don't think it rained 6 inches, but I bet it rained 2 inches in about 3 minutes LOL. That and the wind scared me to death. Remember Alien's tagline, "in space, no one can hear you scream?" Well my tagline that day was "in a hurricane, no one can see you pi$$ your pants!!"

1FASTLASER · 05-17-10, 06:36 AM

GO FISHNG bud...........most units will handle a pretty good rain......if not its an easy upgrade and one that I recommend for all boats.......I run 2 pumps.........one is the main pimp and the other is strictly a backup.......ever knock a hole in one and you will wish you had the second there.

CMorg · 05-17-10, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nofearengineer

It was the day there was a big FLW event there...7/25/09. The rain came out of nowhere. I don't think it rained 6 inches, but I bet it rained 2 inches in about 3 minutes LOL. That and the wind scared me to death. Remember Alien's tagline, "in space, no one can hear you scream?" Well my tagline that day was "in a hurricane, no one can see you pi$$ your pants!!"

LMAO , thats a good story nofear..

CMorg · 05-17-10, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1FASTLASER

GO FISHNG bud...........most units will handle a pretty good rain......if not its an easy upgrade and one that I recommend for all boats.......I run 2 pumps.........one is the main pimp and the other is strictly a backup.......ever knock a hole in one and you will wish you had the second there.

I am going to get a spare , thats a good idea. How many backup pimps to do you have ??

Had to , sorry.

bassintom · 05-17-10, 05:33 PM

I have 2 pumps in my boat. One is automatic and the other is hooked up to a switch so I can use it when needed. Never needed it yet, but it's good to know it's there if I do.

MallenManson · 05-22-10, 06:28 PM

On a slightly related note, I saw a pedal boat nose down in the water yesterday. Meant to take a pic on the way back but forgot. Ot went a different route....can't remember....

flfireman · 05-23-10, 07:57 PM

I fish in Florida, we get rain almost daily at certain times of the year. I have never, ever had a problem with too much rain causing any boat problems. GO FISH!

Rebbasser · 05-24-10, 12:10 AM

Shouldn't be a problem. If Indiana is anything like Texas if it is raining hard enough to overwhelm your bilge pump it is accompanied by lots of lightning so you don't want to be on the water anyway.

lilmule · 05-24-10, 10:15 AM

Most of the newer boats do have enough floatation to keep them afloat,some older boats do as well,Ranger.
However floatation is measured in level,swamped,then some merely float nose up all the rest down,including motor,gas,etc.So dont be tricked into thinking it wont sink,as it has some built in depending upon the floatation,above 20 ft its not or was not a requirement,the Edmond Fitzgerald at 826 ft had none.

WTL · 05-24-10, 11:16 AM

I run small boats and its never really happened. I have gotten about 7 or 8 inches worth in there before and had to bail for several minutes - normally when it rains hard enough to sink the boat it is also lightning so I go in to shore where it wont sink.

I recently did add a bilge, in my case towards the front of the boat since it is the actual lowest area of the vessel with the V. I think it would take a hurricane to sink it via rain. Waves are of course another issue entirely.

TN_Bassin · 05-24-10, 12:25 PM

Couple Saturdays ago when the flooding was just getting started in TN. I don't think the rain would have ever sunk the Stratos but a couple of the smaller Aluminum boats that fish the tourney had to seek cover when the rain got to hard. Even in the Stratos the bilge ran non stop all day long, and the Stratos has dual 500 gph bilge pumps.

The amount of rain I'm talking about is around a foot in 8 hours so if the bilge kept up with it without swamping the boat I doubt the boat would ever sink due to rain alone.

05-15-10, 04:48 PM	#1
CMorg BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Southern , IN Posts: 1,832	Rain Sinking Boat ? Have any of you been anywhere close to having to much rain for a bilge to keep up with ? I am just curious , since ive been fishing in rain lately. How much is too much ?

05-15-10, 05:25 PM	#2
nofearengineer BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southwest IN Posts: 5,630	I have been in one brief downpour last year where the rain was coming down faster than the bilge pump could take it out. It was that awful T-storm at Patoka I got stuck in. However, most bassboats these days have the closed cell foam in the hulls where they would not sink to the bottom even if you filled them with water. They might just sort of bob around barely breaking the surface. __________________ Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing it is not fish they are after.

05-15-10, 11:18 PM	#4
bamabassman BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: cedar bluff, alabama Posts: 15,292	Don't worry bout it cmorg. 1 inch ain't gonna do much. Your pump will get it out. __________________ so many lures, so little time.

05-17-10, 12:30 AM	#8
nofearengineer BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southwest IN Posts: 5,630	It was the day there was a big FLW event there...7/25/09. The rain came out of nowhere. I don't think it rained 6 inches, but I bet it rained 2 inches in about 3 minutes LOL. That and the wind scared me to death. Remember Alien's tagline, "in space, no one can hear you scream?" Well my tagline that day was "in a hurricane, no one can see you pi$$ your pants!!" __________________ Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing it is not fish they are after.

05-17-10, 06:36 AM	#9
1FASTLASER BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: crossett,arkansas Posts: 2,777	GO FISHNG bud...........most units will handle a pretty good rain......if not its an easy upgrade and one that I recommend for all boats.......I run 2 pumps.........one is the main pimp and the other is strictly a backup.......ever knock a hole in one and you will wish you had the second there. __________________ Laser's rule with Merc's doing the pushing..........KEEP THE WETSIDE DOWN AND THE DRY SIDE UP!!!!!!

05-15-10, 07:18 PM	#3
CMorg BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Southern , IN Posts: 1,832	Their calling for around 1" of rain tomorrow in 5 of the 8 hours of our tournament. If its not a nasty nasty storm , I will fish it. I just wondered what everyones thoughts were on this subject.

05-16-10, 09:13 AM	#5
CamG BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Superior, NE Posts: 974	Wouldn't worry about it much. We fished a tournament back in 2001 where we had downpours off and on, all day long. I believe I was in an older Champion, and the bilge just wouldn't do it by itself. We kept fishing of course, and I distinctly remember seeing water come to within 3" of the deck...we kept fishing. It actually didn't seem to affect the boat at all.

05-17-10, 05:33 PM	#12
bassintom BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: washington(northwest) N.J. Posts: 3,958	I have 2 pumps in my boat. One is automatic and the other is hooked up to a switch so I can use it when needed. Never needed it yet, but it's good to know it's there if I do. __________________ A man's gotta believe in something...I believe I'll go fishing.

05-22-10, 06:28 PM	#13
MallenManson BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Beulah, Michigan Posts: 6,431	On a slightly related note, I saw a pedal boat nose down in the water yesterday. Meant to take a pic on the way back but forgot. Ot went a different route....can't remember.... __________________ Bass fear me. Women pepperspray me.....

05-23-10, 07:57 PM	#14
flfireman BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Palm Bay, Fl Posts: 2,751	I fish in Florida, we get rain almost daily at certain times of the year. I have never, ever had a problem with too much rain causing any boat problems. GO FISH! __________________ In the Lord all things are possible.

05-24-10, 12:10 AM	#15
Rebbasser BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 10,141	Shouldn't be a problem. If Indiana is anything like Texas if it is raining hard enough to overwhelm your bilge pump it is accompanied by lots of lightning so you don't want to be on the water anyway. __________________ It's happened to the best of them: John 21:3

05-24-10, 10:15 AM	#16
lilmule BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Buchanan,Tn Posts: 2,685	Most of the newer boats do have enough floatation to keep them afloat,some older boats do as well,Ranger. However floatation is measured in level,swamped,then some merely float nose up all the rest down,including motor,gas,etc.So dont be tricked into thinking it wont sink,as it has some built in depending upon the floatation,above 20 ft its not or was not a requirement,the Edmond Fitzgerald at 826 ft had none.

05-24-10, 11:16 AM	#17
WTL BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 7,466	I run small boats and its never really happened. I have gotten about 7 or 8 inches worth in there before and had to bail for several minutes - normally when it rains hard enough to sink the boat it is also lightning so I go in to shore where it wont sink. I recently did add a bilge, in my case towards the front of the boat since it is the actual lowest area of the vessel with the V. I think it would take a hurricane to sink it via rain. Waves are of course another issue entirely.

05-24-10, 12:25 PM	#18
TN_Bassin BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bon Aqua,TN Posts: 1,013	Couple Saturdays ago when the flooding was just getting started in TN. I don't think the rain would have ever sunk the Stratos but a couple of the smaller Aluminum boats that fish the tourney had to seek cover when the rain got to hard. Even in the Stratos the bilge ran non stop all day long, and the Stratos has dual 500 gph bilge pumps. The amount of rain I'm talking about is around a foot in 8 hours so if the bilge kept up with it without swamping the boat I doubt the boat would ever sink due to rain alone. __________________ Other anglers are tough, but the fish are the real competition.

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