120sdcc w/yamaha 25 4/s very low stern

[Bob1008]

Hello,
I just bought a leftover 2004 120sdcc with 25hp yamaha 4-stroke. I put it in the water today and the stern sits very low in the water. With 1 person (me, 220 Lbs.) in the boat there is only about 3" of transom above water. This really concerns me. Does this seem normal for this particular model?

Also, I have sealed the (2) drain plugs in the stern with Elastomeric, but there is a 3rd plug on the floor in the center behind the bench seat. Is this also a thru hull plug, or should this be left open? (the dealer left this plug out) I put it in.

Any suggestions for installing a bilge pump? At the end of the day there was several inches of water in the bilge area. I'm hoping this was just splashover from the bow (and stern) as it was pretty choppy out. And the few times I had to put the boat in reverse I did get water over the transom.

All in all I'm happy with the boat as it performed about as expected. Allthough I can't imagine putting 3 people in this boat.

I apologize for all the "beginners" questions and I appreciate any input I can get.

Thanks,
Bob

[Jeff]

Hi,
I put a bilge pump on my 2006 120 SDCC. I put it on the port side, 7" forward of the drain plug. Also, I put a battery cutoff switch on the side of the battery box. The bilge pump is in manual mode - toggle switch on the panel to turn it on and off. It works great.
Jeff

[Bob1008]

Jeff,
Does the stern of your boat sit very low in the water? Like maybe only 3"-4" above the waterline? I'm getting water inside the inner hull and I can't find out how. When I take out the center plug, the water pours out. Even when its out of the water on the trailer, the inner hull fills with rain water even though the 2 thru hull drains are opened.

[Jeff]

Bob,
No, it sits normally. But, I am not 220 lbs. I only weigh in at 140 lbs. But the rise in the transom, where the motor sits, is about 8-10 inches from water when I am in the boat.

I will check my boat for possible entrances for water into the inner hull. I do not think I have the third center plug you are talking about. From the front to the back of my boat, there is a hollow drain area where wires are ran for lighting and console accessories and where water drains towards the back of the boat to the plugs. I do recall seeing a good sized hole within the console where the wires go through and also where the steering cable goes. The steering cable follows a different path to the motor than the wires would go to the battery. That steering cable path could go through the inner hull and could be the source of your leak? It could be possible to fill or cover the hole inside the console with something (?) to see if that stops the leak. Or, somehow prevent water from going underneathe the console and into the hole? Just throwing ideas out.
Jeff

[HAZMATdoc]

Jeff

Do you have any pictures of how you rigged your bilge pump in your 120. I figure being about 250# it is a safe bet I am going to get water in from the rear at times. DId you just run a hose over the transome or did you drill a holl for a discharge fitting?

Thanks

Don

[Jeff]

I will try to get pictures this weekend.

I ran the hose over the transome and secured it with a hose clamp at the top of the transome. There is 4"-5" overhang from the top of the transome.

[gulfstream-tv]

hi bob,

i am also a 120 owner and my weight is 160 pounds .

it scares me too, to see that my stern has 2-3 inches or less space to the waterline ( 25 hp two stroke johnson )-

this is really scary and very,very dangerous - so i changed my transportable tanksystem ( 4 gallons ) and my heavy starterbattery from the back , to the middle , under the centerconsole, to feel more save.

but its still only 3 inches above the waterline.

this is the reason, that i will sell my 120 this year and buy a new one, cause they changed the design and its much higher over the stern waterline now.

the middle plug is the wateroutflow for the icebox, built in at the front seat.

so if you fill in ice, and its melting, the water has to come out of this box and so this plug is doing the job. if you have no ice in this box, there is still water coming out, but this is condensation, and spray water of the whole boat .

please do not throw away these plugs, cause i need tham - so feel free if its a leftover to send it to me.
sorry about my english - i am german
yours dd

[Jeff]

Pictures Attached. I hope they help.