Does my 190 need an inner hull drain ?

[beradon]

I have an 06 190 T-top with a 115 Yamaha 4 stroke and my top speed has dropped from almost 40 to about 35. The engine has 90 hours on it and seems to be propped right since WOT is dead on @ 6000 RPM so I'm thinking maybe its time for the inner hull drain. The boat is light-only one battery and minimal extras but when I'm alone the boat feels "bow heavy" and at WOT she seems to be plowing: even when trimmed as high as possible. Putershark highly recommends an inner hull drain so I think I should give that a try. I'm mechanical and I have the tools and I'd prefer to install it myself but whats involved? How deep do I drill? When I've bored deep enough I simply hollow out a pocket for the water to collect? Dick at Merrit said he installs them at the same height as the 2 factory drains so that's clear. Appreciate an advice-Thanks!

[Putershark]

Right at 6000 RPM? Wish I could get mine that close but I cheat anyway (I can hear George laughing already)

Now you already have my vote for the inner hull drain install and if you go into the 190 mods picture section, you will see several install examples there if I am not mistaken.

Now when I installed them on our old 210, it took a 1 inch wood bit and I went in far enough to install the drains (210's use 2 of them) but I did not install the one on our 190 and had the dealer do it on the first service Should be the same though as long as you have the correct sized drains

[rudderhinge]

beradon, you say that your boat feels bow heavy and seems to be plowing. Do you think that you have water in the aft section of the inner hull? If so then I would think that your boat would run with the bow high not plowing. I still think that the inner hull drain should be done, but I would be checking the aft bottom of the hull to see if it has any hook in it or if the bottom has sunk in do to to little fome in the inner hull. You can use a 4' level as a straight-edge to check for these conditions. To much hook in the aft hull will cause the boat to run with the bow plowing and loose speed. good luck, Bob

[beradon]

I agree with you rudderhinge and frankly I am puzzled. As per your and others suggestion, I am going to install an innerhull drain anyway. I've never owned a "bayboat" before and maybe its not plowing and I'm just use to the feel of a semi-V hull. It just feels like the bow should be up another 8-10 inches or so at WOT. I'll report back after I install the inner hull drain. Thanks!

[beradon]

Well, I bored the hole for the inner hull drain and sure enough water started dripping out. It's been dripping for about 10 hours so far and I'm interested to see how long it will continue. I drilled in about 8" deep and the foam was solid. I have to say I'm very impressed by Triumph's solid construction and I think its definitely a worth wild improvement. I'll be calling my dealer today to order a drain assy.

[BAYCOASTAL]

Just so that you know---when I took my 02 190 bay for factory warranty repair this past spring, the first thing they did was drill 2 large holes in the bottum of the hull towards the front (bow) to drain water. This is routine from what I understand.

In addition--go with your instincts. If you think the bow is heavier--it very well could be. From what I understand, water can get trapped in the front third of the boat.

As far as the inner hull drain excitement???!!!!--Ya--I installed one too. The problem with this whole idea is what happens when you try and go to sell the boat. How do you explain to a prospective buyer that the manufacturer recommends installing a inner hull drain yada yada. Why would you buy a boat which has a leak in the inner hull?????

I have resolved to keep my rig "forever" trapped in the fact that I could hardly sell it for what it is worth--especially with having to sell the inner hole drain etc, in addition to the "factory trained expert warranty repair" which was done on the lifetime warranty hull---looks like botched plastic surgery. Once you get one like mine you are stuck.....

As far as the "great construction & strength" etc----my hull is cracking again. This means that I get to take the rig back for more "plastic surgery".

sorry for the soap box

[beradon]

Sorry to hear you're having problems with your Triumph Baycostal but personally I'm wouldn't be at all concerned with explaining why I have a 3rd drain in my 190. I am going to use an oem drain assy and its simply an improvement. Actually I doubt anyone would even ask why its there in the first place. I've had a steady drip for 3 straight days now so its obviously doing it job. The boat lives outside on its trailer and here in SW Florida we get some tremendous rains so I may drain for weeks. As far as hull cracks, I have none but if one should develop, I would probably see an attorney-Shouldn't happen

[OspreyVic]

Baycoastal, I am very sorry you are having problems, any problems at all.

I guess it is all a matter of interpretation. For one, having to install a drain is an issue. To me, every boat should come with a factory-installed drain, and I do not just mean Triumph boats, I mean every boat. Water gets in every boat I have had the pleasure to become acquainted with, and I do mean every. That includes every US Navy ship I had the pleasure to serve on, including being a “Plank Owner” on one ship, and every boat I had the pleasure to have a ride on.

If the Triumph factory solves your hull crack issues, to me that is a big plus. I agree that it probably should never have happened, but if the factory steps up and works with you, then they have done more than most boat manufacturers or for that matter most other manufacturers of consumer goods in this country. Just today, on our local news, we heard about a family whose baby died in 2005, in a crib that now just being recalled. Why did it take at least 3 deaths and over two years for these cribs to be recalled?

I sincerely hope that your problems are solved and that you get many years of pleasure from your boat. I know that I am going to place our boat in my son’s name at Triumph in the hope that he can raise a family on boating after I am too old to go out by myself. He will get the lifetime warranty, and I get the pleasure of feeling better about the future of my family.

Again, good luck.

[rudderhinge]

beradon, Baycoastal is right when he said "go with your instincts". If after checking the aft bottom of your hull for any hook, or anything that woulb make your boat ride bow heavy, and if it is, then I would check for wate in the foward part of the hull. I have seen holes drilled into boat bottoms to drain water out of the hull compartments. I belive that you can find threads on this site that have talked about most of the reasons why water got into places that it shouldn't be. Cracked bottomt due to lack of proper triler support, holes in the anchor locker, water going in and out of the gob/stringer area, scupper crackes----etc. It can happen.
My boat had two 1 1/2" holes drilled into the area just aft of the platform that the gas tank sets on and vacuumed about 30-40 gallons of water that got into the compartment through the gob/stringer area. That made the boat lazy out of the hole and it just felt heavy to me.
I had added the inner hull drain and it only dripped. I never did and have not seen a lot of water come out of it, even before finding the water under the gas tank area.
At one time I noticed that every time I washed the boat I would see more water coming out of the inner hull drain. I started looking and found a crack in the bottom of the anchor locker. The crack was in a very thin spot, in a bottom corner of the locker.
Here's the deal, If your boat if not performing properly. Find out why.
You didn't harm your boat by putting the drain in.
Baycostal, I don't think you where on a soap box, I have seen some botched plastic surger also. I hope that you get your inner hull leaks fixed and that your repairs are done better this time. Good Luck, Bob

[beradon]

I'd like to wait and see if the inner hull drain solves my problem before doing anything drastic. The deck is made up with several sections and everyone of them is a potential watertrap but hopefully all water eventually ends up in the very bottom of the boat and leaves via the inner hull drain. I am not familiar with the construction under the deck but I assume (hope) all compartments have openings that will allow water to flow to the lowest part of the hull where my new drain is located. I realize it might take a while to drain if a lot of water has accumulated but so be it. I keep the boat on a trailer and I have a concrete block under the jack and its has been dripping nicely for days so maybe it will solve my problem.

Getting back the 3-4 MPH that I lost maybe a process of elimination. I have dinged up my prop several times on oysters beds and I file it smooth so I've probably taken about 1/8" off of it and maybe thats why I lost speed?? I'm from PA and I wasn't used to the shallows here on Florida's west coast. I'll replace the factory aluminum with a SS prop one of these days but for now, I'll see what the 3rd drain does. It should definitely be standard equipment on all 190 Bays.