fisherman 204 is lying low in the water

[gradyrod]

seems each season my 1985 Fisherman 204 lies a little lower in the water. The scuppers are well below the water line and this year I had to put special ping pong ball type scuppers on to try and keep the water out of the back motor well. Is there a problem with these boats absorbing water into either the transom or another area? Is there foam in the hull which could be absorbing water and adding weight to the boat?

Thanks for any clues !

Rod

 

[gradyguy2956]

Is the bilge pump running more than before? Have you relocated heavier stuff to the stern?

 

[richie rich]

ROD, YOUR THE 3RD PERSON TODAY WRITING ABOUT THIS..CHECK OUT THE OTHER REPLIES ON SCUPPERS SITTING LOW ETC....THE BOAT WILL ABSORB WATER...BUT NOT IN THE FLOATATIOM FOAM THAT MUCH...IT WILL BE THE WOODEN TRANSOM, BULKHEADS AND STRINGERS IF THAT IS HAPPENING....CHECK YOUR ENGINE BRACKET FOR WATER AS WELL IF YOU HAVE ONE AND DRAIN IT.....I'M SURPRISED ON HOW OFTEN THIS SUBJECT COMES UP.........GRADY OWNERS..WE NEED A PLAN OF ACTION! :lol:

 

[drewmorton]

I agree that the transom and stringers will absorb water, but having dug all the foam out of my boat, I can tell you that it will, over years, become very waterlogged and heavy. Mine was soaked and very heavy.

 

[richie rich]

yeah the foam will absorb some water but my boat absorbed a

Yeah it will absorb some water. My boat had the bottom half inch wet with water. When you picked it up it felt heavy as hell compared to dry foam. But when you calculate a half inch of water over about 40sf of foam. You get about a gallon or so of water depending on your boat size that's 8 to 16 lbs. That won't. Kill you. But add 100 or more square feet of wet lumber and it all starts to add up. Its a chronic problem for older grady owners. But they do take a wave very well!