carsautotech wrote:
I have my discharge port plug with a 1/2 inch ID expand plug that I bought a Academy for $5. When I'm ready to discharge water I just remove it, and turn the manual switch on or let the auto switch which is built in the pump do its job. When done, just put it back on. I have owned 5 islands and all have leaked. I've come to a conclusion that I will be now treating further Islands as a boats and not as a kayak. All boats have bilge pumps. To me it's a peace of mind when I'm offshore fishing 10 miles into the Gulf of Mexico. I remember when I did a beach launch in 2 to 3 foot breakers. I had taken a newbie with me which was riding in the back. When we were in 3 feet of water I told him to drop in his mirage drive in . Not knowing till I was 3 miles offshore. He had wedged the mirage drive with the handle of the rudder line and punctured a pinky size hole. So before I knew it, the back person is sitting in water. What kept me from sinking it that day was my electric bilge pump that ran non stop. I jumped out and started running my hands through the bottom of the hull to check for cracks or holes. After 15 minutes of searching for the hole, sinking in 50 feet of water and the pump doing its job, I finally find it. Took the mirage drives out and started running my fingers through the mirage drive hole and there is was. I could fit my entire pink size fat finger inside. Luckly I had a bobber that was made out of foam and wedged a piece of it for to contour of the hole. When I finally got back onto the front seat of the TI, I waited for the pump to shut off and see if that was the only hole. After 5 minutes more the sound of relief, it shuts off and the Ti is now back to its normal floating level. That day we continued our excursion 5 miles offshore and caught 5 King Fish, 4 snapper and 2 Jack Cravels. Now with an extra added weight of 150 pound of fish, gear and a 3.5 hp out motor, we headed back in and made a successful beach landing. The person I was with was very grateful that the pump really made a difference. We went from a soon to be rescue mission to a successful day of fishing. Just my 2 cents, its cheaper to add a pump than to get a bill in the mail from the coast guard.
That is a good story, cars.... It certainly justifies adding an electric pump in your case. We all need to remember that we all sail in different waters to different drumers.
I have filled my hull with water, but it was full of dry bags (which always leak in time) which may have made a difference. Nevertheless, the hull sat deep enough that there was 2" of water over the middle round hatch. My wife remarked, as she sailed smartly by me, "You are sinking." I told her I knew that. During that episode, I never felt I would sink. You can read about it here.
http://www.hobiecat.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=70&t=7276&start=180 Scroll down to
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