Suitablity of 190 or 210 in water

[kevin bidlack]

I am trying to determine the suitability of either the 190 or the 210 boats to be able to sit in the water uncovered for exteneded periods of time without worry of bad things happening. I am not new to boating, in fact currently own four boats 3 metal and one wood. Need to downsize the fleet as it were. Don't have time for them all. Question is I want to be able to cast off the lines and go without the need to uncover and recover the boat. I am willing to have a cover for the helm and seats made that goes on and off quickly. Seeing that the boat is made of plastic and have self draining cockpits, is there a reason to fear that the boat would fill with water if the bilge pump were to fail? I want this to be as maintence free as possible. I have read all of the posts here and haven't found an answer yet. Thanks in advance for your input.

[Putershark]

Welcome Aboard!
Either one would fit the that need, what you need to ask yourself is what am I going to use the boat for? In other words the "Right Tool for the Right Job" as I like to say... So with that in mind I would go with
Offshore =210 / 215
Inshore = 190
Can you use either one for each job? Pending on current sea states yes, but what is your favor of fishing and how much does draft come into play? If you are not fishing as much and need more of a all around family hull, then the 195 may be even a better fit for you

[kevin bidlack]

Thanks for the reply. The reason I ask about the ability of the boat to drain water over board is that one boat I own a Lund Mr Pike sank at the dock last year due to a failed bilge pump and heavy storms. It didn't actually go to the bottom but it did fill with water. It sure was some task to get it emtied and the electical system repaired to make it an operable boat again. Can this same thing happen to the 190, or does the fact there are deck drains mean that all of the water that enters is emtied overboard? Does rain water enter the bilge area? If so if the pump were to fail the water would only rise to the level of the deck drains? Would there be any other damage such as elecrtical, fuel system etc. Thanks again.

[Putershark]

Both of those hulls are of the self bailing design and I am of the opinion that even full of water neither of them will go to the bottom if the bilge pump were to die... The decks may go awash if you take on some heavy seas, but I do not think that short of a Hurricane could you get enough rain water inside either hull to give you much of an issue. Hopefully one of the members who keep their boat on a lift will chime in on what they have found. Also a simple boat cover to knock the rain off of the hull will do a lot in keeping water out. I know my sunbrella cover sheds water like a duck

Also (but I am not sure) positive hull floatation is pretty much a mandate from the Coast Guard for hulls under 20 feet from a certain model year forward. The year model it started I can not remember though...

The NMMA http://www.nmma.org/certification/programs/boats/ certification provides for a level floatation testing program that Triumph also meets. As far as other damage from water intrusion, if salt water is left inside "any" boat it will eat up electrical contacts in due time. The fuel tanks though are not made of metal and the fuel caps are pretty high on these 2 hulls. If the fuel caps are tight I do not see that as much of an issue either.

Hope this helps?

[MolarBoater]

Triumphs don't sink. So they are fine to leave in the water. Any boat can get water in the bilge or thru the scuppers.

I take my Bay 190 out 40 miles into the Gulf and run 18-28 knts. depending on the wave period. If the waves are 3-4'....I'm staying close to shore. If less, we'll go to deeper water. There's only so far you want to go with a single screw and no sat phone.

I have "sank" my Bay 190. Couldn't really tell until I opened the bilge hatch. Motor and batteries sit above the swamp line....clogged bilge pump/paper got washed in there off a label. No storing of bottles with labels in the rear transome holds!

You can seal the deck of 190 pretty easy which reduces water to the bilge. Search old posts in the 190 section.

In the 3-5' waves the 210 is just going to ride drier and should run bay chop smoother but might not be your first choice if you are going to run a trolling motor.

Saw a Coast Guard boat pulling in a center console this weekend sinking. I think there are certain levels of "positive floatation" with some boat brands loosing engine and battery function, I know the Bay 190 does not.

Good luck, Molar