water damage tracker boat

Brand new Tracker 175 combo put in water without drain plug. Took on alot of water. Immediatly got it back to shore and drained. How much damage can I expect ? Thanks in advance.

I wouldn’t expect any. Check your fuel for water. Open up the hatches and get some fans to dry everything out.

Happens to everyone. Boats these days are made to handle that occasionally. Like Dave says, when you’re done using it open all the hatches and let it air out. Also setting in the sun for a day will help immensely.

If you took in a LOT of water (like bow to stern, up to the floor, filled rod locker etc) I’d open everything up and put a small fan in somewhere.

You didn’t do any permanent damage, but do your best to prevent mold.

(Nevermind, all already mentioned)

Salesman put plug in wrong hole. we were going out on the maiden voyage. Didn’t get to far. I really don’t want this boat. Does anyone know if there are electrical connections from the battery back to the transom? Waiting on sales manager, Monday. Thanks for everyones input.

What did you do to drain the boat?

BTW, if you do this again, just turn on the bilge pump and get moving forward. Faster the better. Water will get sucked right out the drain plug hole. Once drained get it plugged. No big deal most of the time.

-J.

You don’t want a tracker or a boat that got some water in it?

You’ll probably end up in a down pour that will put more water in your boat then leaving the plug out.

Thanks

Still want a Tracker, just one not full of water. It would take a lot of rain to get that much water in it. I just put it on the trailer and let it drain on shore.

the only concern I would have is if it got enough water in it to cover the steering and shift cables,if it did,in less than a year they will rust/corrode enough to become inoperable.
it doesnt take long or a lot of water to cause that as they are not sealed to prevent water intrusion.

if they didnt get water in them,no worries,as others have said,open it up,get some fans running and dry it out,set it in as much sunlight as you can to speed the drying process.

So how much water is a lot?

RICHARD A KUECHENMEISTER wrote:

I just put it on the trailer and let it drain on shore.

One concern would be an overloaded trailer that bent something out of whack. Most trackers are sold with trailers that are pretty much maxed out dry.

-J.

Good thing is that you won’t do that twice ! It happened to me on the 2nd boat I ever owned, about 10 yrs ago.

Secured the boat and pulled ever so slowly out of the water. Stopped as soon as she could see the water pouring from the plug hole. Took forever to drain. That’s when I found out my bilge was not working. No damage whatsoever in the end, surprisingly. No mold either.

Took the boat home, opened everything up and replaced the bilge. Back out the next week.

My number one rule since is that I am the only one to touch the plugs, in or out.

I do remember as a kid, my uncle & grandpa pulling the plug at full throttle, just to let the water out (or just to mess with me) in leaky old flatbottom boats……

I wouldn’t worry to much about it….you would have been pissing your pants as in close to sinking the boat if you got enough water for it to do any damage have fun with the new boat..

My feet wern’t under water but floor was wet. Battery compartment was full didnt look at to much. Seen prob and just was concerned about getting back to the dock. Had bildge pump on so prob saved it. Water drained out for a long time.

Damage? Its a boat, that goes in water. Everything on it is eventually going to get wet. Drain the water and use that thing like you stole it.

Trying to piece together the timeline. Brand new boat, took it out for a ride upon taking delivery, right?

Sounds like you don’t want this particular boat, since it was filled with water.

Were the papers already signed? Has the title been applied for and transferred?

Does your state have a 3-day contract law? Waiting until Monday might prevent you from canceling the contract, if you want out of this deal, you might have to act NOW.

HRG

You don’t want the boat anymore because you forgot to put the drain plug in? Everybody’s done it. It will be fine. It just seems like your trying to lay blame on the people you bought the boat from. It’s illegal to transport a boat with the drain plug installed….

I didnt put the drain plug in, They did…so Iam at fault. They put it in before we went to the lake so that makes them at fault for letting me transport it that way.
Yes all papers signed and registered. All Iam trying to do here is find out if there might be any electrical damage. Hey by the way… I’ve got some ocean front property for sale !

We all understand the concern about your new “baby”, but I’d be wager that the number of boat owners who haven’t done this exact thing is extremely low. Boats get wet all the time. It will be fine. Just dry it out and go use it!

Smellson wrote:

It’s illegal to transport a boat with the drain plug installed….

That’s a MN law. He never said this was in MN.

Would really just air it out and take it for a test spin. See how its running and use everything electrical while you’re out there to see if there is any issues.

RICHARD A KUECHENMEISTER wrote:

They put it in before we went to the lake so that makes them at fault for letting me transport it that way.

You are an adult, right? Time to man up and take responsibility. There is more to boat ownership than driving away from the dealer.

Deleted wrote:

Good thing is that you won’t do that twice ! It happened to me on the 2nd boat I ever owned, about 10 yrs ago.

This is a family specialty Now there’s not even a blink of an eye. Turn on bilge, hit throttle, get to a place to get the plug in. Later open compartments and make sure everything dries out nice. Got the routine down

Huntindave wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>RICHARD A KUECHENMEISTER wrote:</div>
They put it in before we went to the lake so that makes them at fault for letting me transport it that way.

You are an adult, right? Time to man up and take responsibility. There is more to boat ownership than driving away from the dealer.

I have to agree with Dave, a dealer never had to put a plug in for me, or remove the straps, or etc… I am responsible to properly operate and maintain whatever I own.

Have them put in a auto bilge pump, that way you will know right away if this happens again. It happened to me a couple times no big deal, park it on a incline and open everything up and let air out, its a boat its build to get wet.

Your boat will be perfectly fine. I’ve been in a boat more than once where the plug was forgotten and the water wasn’t noticed until the floor was wet. It’s not a big deal at all.
Open the hatches and leave it in the sun to dry out. Boats are designed to withstand getting wet once in a while.

Dave do you are saying I should be redponsible for thier error. I know how to lauch a boat. Yes I took off the straps. The dealer put in the plug. So I guess Iam at fault
You must be a Democrat.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t you suposed to transport your boat with plug OUT?
If that is the law, then plug should have been taken out at dealership and then you’d be reposnsible for putting it back in at launch.
Once you own the boat, I would think it would be owners repsonsibility to operate within the law… plug out
If I am wrong with this statement, forgive me…Not sure which state you are in

I once had water 1/2 way up my side comparments in brand new Ranger 620 from a mille lacs mega storm.
Dried out compartments, not a problem since

Go enjoy your new boat is my $.02

You come here asking if the boat will be alright, You’ve got a dozen plus guys all pretty much saying the same thing, yet you won’t listen to them and still want to return the boat. Some people just believe what they want to believe I guess.

My dad did that a few times when I was a kid. Then did the old pull the plug and gun it trick. Used to scare me. Ha ha now I do that same trick to my son who is 7. And i scream a little saying i messed up bad sorry bud. We are gonna have to swim.