On Wed, 07 Dec 2005 00:14:02 -0500, gfretwell wrote:

On 6 Dec 2005 09:45:29 -0800, "
wrote:

I would like to know how a 18-ft center console to be able to
self-bailing.

Just remember that if you load the boat to the point that the
scuppers go under it is self sinking.

I think this is the "crux" of the situation.

A boat is "self-bailing" if the cockpit sole is above the waterline. This
allows water to drain off the floor through whatever scupper you have. If
the sole is below the waterline, you need a pump to get the water out, and
if you have a scupper, it will let water IN rather than OUT.

I suppose the concept gets a but complicated if the SOLE is above WL but
there is a BILGE below the WL. Looks like that's your case. So if there's
some kind of bulkhead to keep water on the sole from getting into the
bilge, it's still "self-bailing", but if not, the water will go into the
bilge instead of overboard, and you will need a pump to get it out.

Lloyd