There are three major areas of concern when the water line rises... 1) The most obvious is that the boat is so much more vulnerable to wakes, over the bow, over the stern (including your own on a quick stop) or even over the side. With the boat already heavily loaded it might not survive taking a big wake over the bow, plus it will be so much more likely to get a wake over the bow. 2) Thru-hull fittings; Water can flow back through the bilge pump when it is not operating. If the water line rises above the outlet for the bilge pump then it becomes a hole allowing more water into the boat. Likewise, if the gas tank vent goes under you will get water in the gas tank, which will not be good! 3) Exhaust risers: These are perhaps more subtle issues only because it isn't easy to see the relationship. The engine exhaust flow out through a fitting low in the boat. The engine cooling water is injected into the exhaust just past the "riser", which is the high point in the exhaust. The riser has to be sufficiently above the water line to assure that water can not flow back into the engine.
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