Draining bilge water

[Road King Cole]

After coming home with the boat on the trailer, I have been removing the drain plug and then jacking the front of the boat up so the water can drain out. I typically crank the trailer jack up all the way, prop up the trailer, crank the jack in, place a cement block under the jack and then crank it up just about all the way to put a sawhorse under it. I found that’s a lot of cranking on the trailer jack.

Is this really necessary except for winter storage? I assume my bilge pump works, but the when its on the trailer the water is probably "midships".

What’s the “easy way”?

[macojoe]

I have a wood block I put under the jack and crank and not all the way, just so the bow is up. There is always going to be some rain water getting in there but there is no need to worry!
There was a post from someone a long way back that use to put a small rag in the drain hole and leave it hanging out so it would wick away the water and he said the bildge would be bone dry!

But its all a waste of time IMO

[Blue_Runner]

If the ramp isn't crowded pull the plug on the ramp as you are taking the boat out. Unless you have a fairly big leak somewhere you should be able to get all the water out in a minute or less.

Or, park the boat on an incline at your house (if you have one).

[Road King Cole]

I am more concerned about rain\rinse water water. Maybe I will try it on the boat ramp to see how much water there actually is.

My property is pretty flat, I had actually though about digging a spot to back the boat into, but my plan is to save my back...

[RWilson2526]

I go through the same routine, crank it up, block it, crank it back down....definitely a work out .....my driveway is pretty flat where I keep it, maybe a very slight incline forward and like you only get every last drop if I go the extra mile and block it....I was thinking a newer jack might make it less of a work out. I feel better knowing there's no water sitting in the belly so I'm willing to endure it for now.

[garagenc]

I take my tractor and lift the front of the trailer so the center of the boat is tilted, this gets all the water out at that time.

[phatdaddy]

rkc, have the same concerns as you, this is my solution, and the bilge "tampon" really works well
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo214/gls216/DSCF0502-1.jpg

http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo214/gls216/DSCF0503-1.jpg
i also have a small fan i put in the cabin in the hole to the anchor locker and let it run all the time to air out the bilge.

[tsubaki]

And appropriate color there phat!:clap:

[Blu_Lunch]

rkc, have the same concerns as you, this is my solution, and the bilge "tampon" really works well
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo214/gls216/DSCF0502-1.jpg

http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo214/gls216/DSCF0503-1.jpg
i also have a small fan i put in the cabin in the hole to the anchor locker and let it run all the time to air out the bilge.
I tried the tampon idea it works well, what kind of fan do you use?

[phatdaddy]

http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo214/gls216/DSCF0505.jpg

http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo214/gls216/DSCF0506.jpg

a small one i got at wally world coupleof years ago when we were camping at the state park, fits & works great.

[Bonita Dan]

Ya should be a hit out at the beach for Memorial day with that rag Phat! :love: RKC,don't sweat it man,the rain water is just a natural bilge cleaner but I do suggest ya pour a little laundry detergent in the bilge to kill any skeeter larvae that might wanna hatch in your boats bilge.