HenrysCreek Posted March 28, 2022 Report Share Posted March 28, 2022 I haven't spent much time on the new (to me) 18.5MA because of weather and grandkid duties. She's now safely on the lift at my bay house, which got me thinking..... With her being on the lift, I don't have access to removing the bilge drain plug and I'm curious about "what water" drains into the bilge vs. overboard. Currently there's only one battery charger and it's connected to the trolling bank in the bow compartment. If a lot of water drains into the bilge, I'm sure it'll drain the starting battery pretty quickly. My plan was to just keep a trickle charger on the starting battery - but if the bilge collects water I might need to rethink that. Anyone have any advice? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanaflatsfish Posted March 28, 2022 Report Share Posted March 28, 2022 next time on a trailer....remove the external plug and install an internal plug. dc 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HenrysCreek Posted March 28, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2022 Well, that would be the brilliant thing to do! It currently has the smaller brass "screw-in" plug. Not sure if that'll work from the inside - nor if the standard plunger plugs would work in a threaded hole. Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim33042 Posted March 28, 2022 Report Share Posted March 28, 2022 I have an 18 that has plug in it all the time. Water can get in around the anchor locker and I have the fold up seat behind console which also drains into the bilge. I keep a good incline to the bow [up] which keeps the water in the back of the bilge. During the summer and heavier storms, I will notice the bilge pump kick on when I sit her in the water.. normally it’s not much water and I use the boat regularly. If The boat wasn’t used regularly, the internal plug would be best option. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jh141 Posted March 29, 2022 Report Share Posted March 29, 2022 Believe it or not, a lot of High End Bass Boats have this remote set up. https://www.flow-rite.com/marine/technologies/remote-drain-plug/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HenrysCreek Posted March 29, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2022 Awesome idea. Looks like one more little project! 😃 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polliwog Posted June 4, 2022 Report Share Posted June 4, 2022 I leave my Hewes LT at a dock and have it connected to a trickle charger when left for a while . Charger is in the battery locker so it stays dry in the rain. Have done it for 15yrs. I always check the boat if I am not using it for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polliwog Posted September 8, 2022 Report Share Posted September 8, 2022 I don't know the interior of the MA,but on the Hewes LT you can't easily get to drain area where the drain plug lives so it's not possible for me to do that option. My BW was simple as it is sitting right in full view. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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