What is this???

[Jbyerspe]

The rubber hose connects to the small water intake under the boat, but the part that goes down inside the hull by the propeller support doesn't seem to go anywhere........

I know you guys are shaking your head in amazement, but I'll catch on some day............

[Jbyerspe]

Sorry............ pictures would help now wouldn't they??

[joanroy]

That's an outflow type thru hull fitting. The pipe is looped up above the water line to keep water from backing in. It was probably connected to a bilge pump.

[drrot]

It's a "self bailer" when you get going fast enough it creates a suction and sucks the bilge water out.

[Doug P]

It's a "self bailer" when you get going fast enough it creates a suction and sucks the bilge water out.

Make sure it's not plugged. I do not see the small airvent at the top bend of the tube.

Jerry, Glad you are posting pictures.

[Jbyerspe]

Thanks guys....... I sure hope I can get it going fast enough to self bail............

Where and what should the vent be Doug? I didn't see a vent either. Can I just drill a hole in the top of the pipe??

[Doug P]

I think you can. Small one. There is some controversy about having these self bailers. Do a search to read about it.

[Jim Godlewski]

I think you can. Small one. There is some controversy about having these self bailers. Do a search to read about it.

I have been told by Mr. Dannenberg and followed this advise to remove the original self bailers and add a bilge pump with a automatic switch.
From what I hear the original self bailers can allow water in and sink the boat. A good reason to eliminate it IMO.

[jbyers]

Wow. Sounded like a good idea at the tt

[Greg Wallace]

They were a good idea then and if properly maintained will perform the same today.

[Don Vogt]

Remove or plug and install a bilge pump. The risk of what happens is too great for most people to want to take. There are plenty of horror stories here.

[Jbyerspe]

Thanks all...........

[charlesquimby]

As I recall there is a swing check valve in the exit. That would be part of the maintenance---inspection of the check valve. These are trouble. If you want to retain the original look, just plug it securely. A functioning one is not worth the risk of sinking... CQ

[Jbyerspe]

thanks Charles

[ClassOf56]

My guess is that they were added later when the hull started to leak, a lot. They may be period correct, but I doubt they are original equipment. If you like the look, install it, but plug it and don't make it actually functional.

I already know that I will have enough troubles convincing myself to drill the holes that I NEED in my new hull, much less some that I might not need.

[jbyers]

[Jbyerspe]

I'm not sure if it was an add on C56. On the hull card there is an entry checked that says "self bailer" (I don't have it in front of my but I think that's the term they used. I can't imagine with a name like that it would be anything else......

Not that it matters all that much really

[Bob B]

On my CC 1948 17' deluxe runabout the hull card is checked "self bailer cleaned".

That inverted V pipe in the back of my boat has always worked perfectly. Whenever water was in the bilge it would disappear soon after gaining planing speed. We do have an after market electric 6V pump but since new bottom was installed a few years back (Thank you Fish Brothers) the boat needs little bailing of any kind. It's not broken; I hope I don't need to fix it.
Bob B.

[jbyers]

Makes me want to put in glass floors just so I can watch over it.

[Don Vogt]

Bob, one way you will know it needs fixing is when you find your boat on the bottom of the lake. That would be very unfortunate.

[Doug P]

I have had occasion where the self bailer kept me from sinking. I do not know of any instance where a properly installed and maintained self bailer caused a boat to sink.
It is the organist, not the organ.

[Don Vogt]

the magic words there doug are "properly maintained."

[Doug P]

Yep

[Greg Wallace]

These devices had trap doors on the outlet on some and a check ball in others to prevent water surge.
Some may have had both and I do not know for sure but I think the trap door was earlier.

"Properly maintained" is ALWAYS the key ingredient. This extends to all through hull fittings including shaft and strut logs, exhaust outlets, cooling water intakes, drain plugs, and all connection points where water flows.

We have raised many boats over the years that sank do to lack of attention to these areas. I have no doubt that these bailers have been responsible for their share of mishaps but I cannot recall ever attributing the fatal leak to one of these.

It is also important to make sure the bilge pump is installed correctly to ensure no reverse siphoning action.

Although I have had more than one experience where the auto bailer saved a boat from the clutches of Captain Jones, todays modern bottoms and advancements in electrical systems and bilge pumps seems to reduce their importance and allow for one less area to have on our "Floatlist".

I'm still keeping mine, thank you.

[Jbyerspe]

Great discussion guys........ I can see the reasoning on both sides. I tend to want to keep mine if I can go through it and ensure it's clean and replace the rubber hose securely.

Just where was the check valve located? Is it in the brass fitting itself? I hate to take that out and breach the stuffing box seal.

Any ideas?

[Doug P]

Great discussion guys........ I can see the reasoning on both sides. I tend to want to keep mine if I can go through it and ensure it's clean and replace the rubber hose securely.

Just where was the check valve located? Is it in the brass fitting itself? I hate to take that out and breach the stuffing box seal.

Any ideas?

Some are a one way swing gate at the siphon. I double clamp EVERY hose fitting on my boats.

[joanroy]

How do you know if your an eccentric old wooden boat nut?

When you can discuss the merits of a self bailer for hours on end and still come to no good conclusion. I,unfortunately, find it interesting.

[jbyers]

I do too

[jim g]

All the chris crafts came with the self bailer from the factory. Chris craft used the thru hull with the swinging flap to sometime in the 30's. After that its the one pictured at the beginning. There were several different bailer tubes inside the hull that were use. When you go down the lake the the hull creates a suction that pulls the water out if its around the tube. There should be a small hole at the highest point on top of the copper pipe. Its about the size of a 1/16" drill bit or a little smaller. If the hole is stopped up. when the boat comes to an idle or is docked the bailer can start sucking water into the hull. The hole is there to break the suction to prevent this from happening.

Century boats kept using the bailer thru hull with the flap.

[Doug P]

thanks Jim