Water Proofing Fish Box's on 2100

[Carterrl]

I personally have given up using the floor fish box's and have gone to a 150 quart cooler. I have tried water proofing all the floor storage compartments by using 5/8 clear tubing in the drain areas around each compartment. This method seems to work of the 3 forward storage compartments, but the two fish boxes in the back continue to fill with water.

Any ideas or success making these two water tight so they can be used for something other than salt water storage? Thanks for any ideas.

Raider Red

[ILLOGICAL GGC]

just curious as to the source of your deck water i.e. washing down all the blood on deck , or possibly the ball checks not keeping the water out of the splashwell

[1John]

I would love to know if anyone has dry fish boxes? I am assuming they just stay wet. My 2007 has threaded fittings on the two rear boxes, I was considering putting in a single or pair of macerator pumps on them. This would keep all the blood out of the bilge.
Speaking of leaks, our boat has 90hrs on it now and the fuel tank cover over the bilge leaks when it is raining heavy at trolling speed, the pump was running every five minutes the other day. Do these need to be sealed regularly also?

[NCangler]

I had a macerator pump put in my 215 for the rear fish boxes. We modified it with a cut off switch that lets me switch between feeding the macerator pump or draining to the bilge. This is important for when you're not fishing and want the fish boxes to drain to the bilge where water can be pumped overboard. My front fish boxes drain into the rear ones now instead of into the the bilge also. Works very nicely. I plan to show the setup in the Maintenance and Modifications DVD I'm working on.

[Codfish]

There seems to be two different problems or opinions being addressed here. First of all, for Raider Red, I don't think you can waterproof the rear boxes. The front ones you may be able to do a pretty good job but the rear ones are in a wet zone and besides, they were made for fish, not dry storage. Your large cooler is your best bet in my opinion.

The issue of water in the bilge that runs the pump frequently sounds like there is alot of water on the deck. Maybe more than the small water channels can handle so the excess is getting to the bilge. Maybe through the rear fish boxes. I think you will just have to live with that issue as there is no fix I can think of.

The water drainage system on the 210/215s works adequately if the boat is moving forward at at least a fast troll. If you are drifting it does not allow the excess water to flow rearward into the transom well and then overboard. I think that is what is called the nature of the beast. This boat will not change with the rear deck being so close to the water line.

So if the bilge pump runs alot. Check for leaks. If there are none. I think you are stuck with what you have.

Any other thoughts out there?

Codfish

[1John]

Thanks Guys
I will be looking for the pump setup you installed. Also put some time on the boat today and noticed her listing to the left. I found water in the small plug that is not supposed to have water in it and it is salty. Back to the dealer I guess.

Thanks
John

[Codfish]

1John,

Can you describe in more detail the plug you say has salt water behind it? Where is it located and what does it plug? Is it one of the foam access hole plugs? Is it in the bilge area?

Sounds like you may have an inner hull water retention problem. Just my guess with the limited info available. If your dealer (who was mine also) does not know how to solve the problem, let us know. The forum members can help you out.

Listing to one side or the other tells me you have extra weight accumulating, proabably in the inner hull. You could likely gain from a drain as lots of us have done.

Good luck, Codfish

[1John]

Hi codfish
It is in the bilge area, there is one on each side, small black plug with a seal. looks like foam is in the hole.

Don't get me wrong, 95+ hrs on this boat and I love it, it handels better than any glass boat this size I have run. My buddies have North River aluminum boats, faster than mine with 1/4" chop but 2'+ they slow down I do not.

It just bugs me I may have to modify a new boat for something the factory knows is a problem. My 1956 glasply handled like crap but the only water that came in was from the top. In the Seattle area that is more than enough. I don't need any help from below. I would like to leave her on the bouy.

Having access to your knowledge is greatly appreciated

[k9reno]

I had a problem with my bilge pump running every 5 minutes or so. I turned out that I had created a problem with water in my inner hull foam with some drains I had installed. the inner hull filled with water and found a pin hole in the floor of the bilge to come in through and would flow enough that every time I stepped in the boat the pump would kick in and every 5 minutes or so while under power. the triumph folks at the mackfest in 06 were kind enough to weld the pin hole shut at the dock for me. I then had the drains fixed so they dont let water into the hull and had the hull drained. I also had a drain put on the transom so I can make sure no water collects in there any more. I have not had a problem since.