---

Thanks for the replies. Jeff, hadn't read your story before, very similar to my experience today. I felt if I were to try and motor forward with all that water in, it would all go to the stern and be unweildy in the swells. Having the T-top doesn't seem to help either when the water's sloshing around in heavy seas. Not a great feeling being so helpless out there.

And thanks for the info on the water level in the sump. The seas have picked up again (marine forecast just changed from calm seas the rest of the week to a small craft 3' seas advisory through tomorrow afternoon), but if it calms down, I should be able to see where it settles out. What a relief though to have even a heavy Whaler still have some self-bailing ability, and pretty cool to see it still work after 25 years of service...

Good point Jon, I'll check that tomorrow, thanks. When I switched to both batt's and started the motor, I expected better flow out of the pump but wasn't sure with one of the batt's being dead.

I've also got to check my oil tank for water (any ideas on the best way to do that?) and am considering moving the batt's and oil tank into the center console to both get them out of the water if this happens again, and to also get some weight forward....