The pic on the right is what I call a normal splashwell and is the same thing my V has factory... the only difference is that it has, and I suggest building, a floor in it that angles back to floor level at the transom and draining it through the transom instead of into the sump... then whatever water hits your deck would still drain to the sump and be pumped out.

like Maco joe said im thinking to hard. what i kinda want to know also when the boat is on the trailer how does the sump drain from rain water? i take it there is a drain plug i need to drill in that recessed sump well? I apoligize for asking all these questions but the po had the transom set up all wrong he had the sump well draining into the bilge, and the only other v20 ive been on was my dads and it was a self bailing with a higher floor.

well generally if you have a sump (V-20's don't) the garboard plug drains the sump and there are holes in the sump going into the otherwise sealed bilge that you keep plugs in while in use but pull for storage.

If my suggestions are not what you want to hear, don't hesitate to tell me and I'll stop but I suggest that you get some cardboard and build it a few times.... adding an angled floor to your "box" to turn it into a splash well really is a negligible amount of added work and ANY water that you can make self drain is an advantage..... Honestly, as high as your floor is, I'd strongly consider covering up that sump and letting your deck just drain overboard. Leave the sump to just draining the under floor area....

I agree with smoke. I can not think of any reason i would want a sump vs. a self draining deck.

Being a 74' hull I was told the floor is water level so unless I raised the floor I couldn't make it self bailing. So I installed the sump well and was gonna make it a hybrid type transom with a sump and a well type box built up. What I can do now is cover up the sump well with a piece of ply and glass it flush then cut out a circle for a 8 inch inspection plate and make kind of a dry storage in the rear. Then drill my holes for my ball scuppers and make it self bailing. The stern of this boat is lite weight and I don't think I will have a problem.

When wellcraft took this design from bilge-draining to self-draing floors, they raised the floor several inches and built the cap up several inches as well...you're saying you expect yours to be self-draining at only 3/4" above outside water level...plus the splashwell you're thinking about will only add weight in an area you don't want it...Smoke mentions having water drain into the sump to be bailed out by the bilge pump(s)...basically what I suggested early in this thread before there was mention of a splashwell...still makes sense to me...but a word of caution...WE are not there...YOU ARE...it's your boat and you know what you have in mind and conditions the boat will be used in...your craftsmanship is great...I wish I had HALF the skills you show...but the greatest workmanship won't forgive a poor design...

PICTURE #1 Hey guys heres the transom Im talking about. What year is this model? Where would I direct the deck water to drain? I now understand elevating and angling the splash well floor towards the stern with drain holes. Out of all the configurations I have mentioned which one should I go with? Guys thank you so much for all your help im sorry im asking alot of questions i have just busted my @$$ to get this boat perfect and I dont want to stray on such an important part. as you guys can see im at a point to were i need some sound advice. I feel comfortable building it anyway you guys seem fit.


PICTURE #2 Reel I raised the floor from factory 3/4 of an inch and Im not sure where the floor sits in comparison to the water now, All I know is that Im a whole lot lighter in the transom than it used to be. Also the picture you see of BLUES 74' Is the way i would really like to go with 2 storage boxes port and starboard and a single batter board conecting the 2 storage boxes and 2 scuppers in the transom i WOULD SIMPLY HAVE TO COVER UP THE SUMP WELL i GLUED AND GLASSED IN.

I suggest that you build the splashwell for now and leave the sump alone for the time being. Hang the motor and even if you can't run it, fill the fuel tank with fuel or water (yes it's a pain to get it dry but it's cheaper than gas) and take your batts with you to the ramp. Launch the boat and see what your water level is with the boat loaded as it would be in use... check front and back.... it MAY be worthwhile to locate the batts in the bow.

After you find your actual water level you can decide how to proceed.

I just measured my factory CC outboard self bailing deck. Best I can tell, the floor is 18.5" above the keel and thus 1.5" lower than the 20" transom.... just a reference for you to compare to. This was measured at the rearmost portion of the floor beside the splashwell. Also the top of the splashwell is 11.5 inches higher than the transom or 31.5" above the keel.

Yeah, Man...I thought you were going for the #2 configuration and the sump would have a weight-supporting grate over it for water collection and pump location...w/no need for scuppers and thru hulls...scuppers are great when new and unclogged, but if a particular design doesn't require them, IMO no need to bother w/them...and of this I'm sure...scuppers are best used w/an inside floor well above the water line...:party: