I have 5 Gas boats. 2 Hydros, 2 Cats and 1 Mono. Every time I run a particular hydro, I take on a good couple pints of water by the end of a 500ml bag. I know where the water is coming from. It has taken me a while to realize, due to the pipe cut-out in the cowl, water sprays into the hull in a hard right turn. There is just nothing I can do about it with the design of the boat.It is driving me nuts, because I love running a boat and bringing it in dry. This hydro is just too wet.

I have 2 autobailers in the back (1 low left/1 low right). I keep them clean and functional, but water is trapping in the sponsons. Is it a common practice for guys to drill holes in the bottom rear of the sponson to shed the water. I really don't want to do this. I hate drilling holes after working so hard to build and set up these boats, especially without a functional bailer in place to keep things complete. Can I get suggestions on common practices in the hobby. Is it pretty typical to just tap a couple holes to keep her light?

I have a hole drilled in the rear of each of my sponons of my hydro to drain water out after each run. I just use a rubber plug while I'm running to seal them up.

Why not install the auto bailers in the sponsons ?.

I have drilled holes in sponsons before...depends on the boat. I used them on my Seaducer hydro. In most hydros you should have enough room to actually install bailers in the sponsons if wanted.

Are you sure the water isn't coming in on launch and when coming back to bay? Hydros tend to go under a bit on lauch and when you shut them down. If you don't mind, could you share what make hydro it is?

Sure, it's my (AM) Thunderbolt. Big meaty sponsons that hold a lot of water. I am real good at launching it flat and on plane. When I bring it in, yeah, she dives, but I feel like the water is sprayed in and the boat could run lighter. In general, are hydros more prone to take on water than cats?

I mean, you get a good amount of spray from the turn fin as opposed to everything going behind you with a cat.

I noticed this with my Insane Gen II. I always seem to have a fair amount of water in the hull, no matter how I launch it. Many times, I have someone else launch it. It always seems to run pretty good. My thought was that it was getting water when I launch (especially myself), and when it settles down after running.

I have an Insane Hyrdo as well and I didn't notice the problem as bad. I guess it is the nature of the beast (Hydros). I have a learge cutout in the cowl of the AM Tbolt and I think that makes the problem worse. My buddy has a Whip and it runs completely dry. I am going to build on sooner or later but I would really like to get this Tbolt dry before the first races in May.

Wow...could you post a pic or two? I've never experienced that problem to be honest. On the launch though, that's often an issue...especially with low profile boats like the Whip. Also when killing it on the way back, it digs in deep and takes a good gulp sometimes...but never had problems with hydros taking in that much water during a run. Not that I noticed anyway!

I've never known any differently with the Insane to be honest. I thought about it a bit and thought it was probably normal. I would say I get about 1/2 cup to a full cup of water in the boat depending on launch. I must say that I suck at launching myself - probably b/c we run from docks, and I'm not real close to the water. Always worry about dropping the radio!! The weight forward nature of the hydro makes it easier to dunk! Cats, Monos, and even the T-Boat no problem though.

One other thought that some people may also chime in on, I always thought it was best to put a bailer in the left side of each sponson so that it continues to drain in the corners - if you go that route- that is!

mitchesx wrote:
If I do drain hole in the sponsons I do them in the lowest spot, which it normally the inside edge/corner. Not really worried about water pushing to port during the turns, as after every turn, there is a long straight! It doesn't really matte much though as whatever little might not drain if you do it in a different location won't change a thing while running...as long as the hole is somewhere along the ridepad at the transom of the sponson.

You know, I may have been getting some water in the various hydros while running, but it really has never been enough to change anything, so I didn't really notice. I just grab the boat as it comes back and flip it over and drain. Pretty much all boats have some water in them after running really. How much varies. If it's enough to change the handling and performance, then I would worry. I've never experienced that honestly.