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Drainage Systems
When the boat is out of the water the bilge can be
drained by a garboard drain located in the transom
near the bottom of the hull. The plug should be
removed whenever the boat is hauled out of the
water and installed just prior to launching. It is
important to check the drain plug regularly to
make sure it is tight.
A LOOSE DRAIN PLUG WILL ALLOW SEAWATER TO ENTER
THE BILGE AND COULD CAUSE THE BOAT TO TAKE ON
ENOUGH WATER TO DAMAGE EQUIPMENT OR ENDANGER
THE CREW. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO CHECK THE
DRAIN PLUG FREQUENTLY TO ENSURE IT IS PROPERLY
TIGHTENED.
Important:
Any oil spilled in the bilge must be thoroughly
removed and properly disposed of before op-
erating the bilge pump. The discharge of oil
from the bilge is illegal and subject to a ne.
THE FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ACT
PROHIBITS THE DISCHARGE OF OIL OR OILY WASTE
INTO OR UPON THE NAVIGABLE WATERS OF THE UNITED
STATES OR THE WATERS OF THE CONTIGUOUS ZONE IF
SUCH DISCHARGE CAUSES A FILM OR SHEEN UPON OR
A DISCOLORATION OF THE SURFACE OF THE WATER OR
CAUSES A SLUDGE OR EMULSION BENEATH THE SURFACE
OF THE WATER. VIOLATORS ARE SUBJECT TO A PENALTY
OF $10,000.
Bilge Pump Operation and Aquatic
Invasive Species (AIS) Inspections
Many western U.S. states are now conducting boat
inspections for Aquatic Invasive Species like Zebra
and Quagga mussels. These have been proven to
damage natural aquatic habitats and cause serious
issues with your boat’s engine cooling system.
Several things can be done to prevent the spread
of these invasive species. Keeping the interior
compartments clean, drained, and dry after each
use, ensuring your trailer is free of aquatic weeds,
and removing your boat’s garboard drain plug
after each use can go a long way towards prevent-
ing damage to your boat and the waterways you
enjoy. Your boat is tted with one or more Rule
bilge pumps. If you are required to go through
an inspection station, your boat may be ushed
with 120° Fahrenheit water to ensure any residual
organisms are destroyed before launching. Your
bilge pumping system can withstand this tem-
perature for up to 130 seconds with no ill eects.
Should your bilge pump and associated hoses,
clamps, and thru hulls have any damage related
to one of these inspections, please take your
boat to the nearest Everglades dealer for repair/
replacement at no cost to you.
9.6 Drainage System Maintenance
It is essential that the following items be done
periodically to maintain proper drainage of your
boat:
• Clean the cockpit drain rails with a hose to
remove debris that can block water drainage.
• Clean the hardtop leg drain holes. This is
especially important just before winter lay-
up.
• Clean the bilge pump strainers of debris and
check the bilge for foreign material that can
cause the automatic switches to malfunction.
• Frequently test the automatic bilge pump
switches for proper operation. This is accom-
plished by using a garden hose to ood the
bilge until the water level is high enough to
activate the pump.
Garboard Drain Plug
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