Can a SR4 be left on a mooring

chewy · 27 March 2009, 10:46

Hi,

After reading JSP's thread it got me thinking.
I'm getting an SR4 with an open flooding hull, will this be ok left on a mooring that drys out every tide or do I run the risk of osmosis from water sitting inside the hull?

Also it appears to have a drainer of some sort on the port side of the transom rather than a trunk, is this right?

Thanks

9D280 · 27 March 2009, 12:29

Chewy,

Osmosis shouldn't be a problem - remember the hull was designed to be wet in there.

What might be more of a problem is the scratch marks on your engine leg from the crabs & other assorted creatures that decided to crawl in when the tide was out & get flushed out as you open the throttle!

Transom drains / trunks are as variable as the people who fit them. From memory the floor will be below water level when afloat on a mooring (esp if you got a 60 on the back!!) so you'll either need an auto bilge pump or one of those nice reliable non return valves

so it empties when the tide falls. Personally I would replace it with a trunk, then worst case you open it when you leave the mooring (and remember to wear wellies or a drysuit!)

PeterM · 27 March 2009, 13:23

A couple of SR4s live on the water near me - with trunk up & no pumps/ one way valves fitted. Yes they do fill up with water a bit , but if you are a little bit perceptive and can see that it has rained you go along & empy the thing out or drive it up/ down a bit & empty it.

Not sure whay the inside of the flooding chamber would end up like - full of seaweed maybe ?

chewy · 27 March 2009, 14:05

What about it filling up with sand or will it self flush?

How much water can I expect on the deck if I leave the trunk down?

I've seen a photo of one of Tims SR5.4's and thats pretty full!

JSP · 27 March 2009, 14:17

The deck filling up isn't to much of a worry for me as I can get to it most weeks or ask someone to go check. It's the inside of the hull fouling up that bothers me.

JSP · 27 March 2009, 14:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by chewy

What about it filling up with sand or will it self flush?

How much water can I expect on the deck if I leave the trunk down?

I've seen a photo of one of Tims SR5.4's and thats pretty full!

I've had the hull bunged up with sand and it comes out no problem after a spin

chewy · 27 March 2009, 14:21

The fouling of the inside of the hull could be cured by a liberal squirt of bleach or weed killer!

Patches · 27 March 2009, 14:24

We have an sr4 in the sailing club with a mariner 40 on the back. She lies on a mooring in the harbour from apr to oct if the trunk gets left open she turns into a swimming pool now granted she never dries but inside hull stays fine . Never had any trouble with osmosis or anything like that . Hope this helps.
Cheers
Patches

9D280 · 27 March 2009, 14:25

There was a post on here a while ago about marine growth in a SR on a non drying mooring -Memory says the conclusion was that it wasn't a problem (presumably too dark for anything to live in?)

A quick search should find it.

chewy · 27 March 2009, 14:31

I'll get a cover and fit an auto bilge pump to solve the water on the deck problem.

I'll see what happens regards fouling in the hull, I was going to block it but thinking about it it'd be better left open seen as its on a mooring.

walruz · 28 March 2009, 00:05

my 5.4 lives on a mooring for 7- 8 months of the year (and a lot of 4.1s also in the neighbourhood). Just acid wash the hull a few times a year and no problem. I have not had any weed buildup inside the flooding hull at all over the last 3 years - only on the outside of the hull.

Ian

chewy · 28 March 2009, 00:54

Thanks Walruz,

What acid do you use as I was going to antifoul it? I know I asked this when I first joined, sorry for the same question twice.

Thanks

Phill

walruz · 28 March 2009, 16:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by chewy

Thanks Walruz,

What acid do you use as I was going to antifoul it? I know I asked this when I first joined, sorry for the same question twice.

Thanks

Phill

Hydrochloric Phill. It breaks down to salt and water. Around the islands it is used to keep the quays and steps free of weed. Dead easy to use as well - spray it on, leave for 30 secs then wipe off with a deck scrubber.

Ian

chewy · 29 March 2009, 08:52

What strength/concentration is the acid?

Thanks

walruz · 29 March 2009, 15:54

I'll try and check this week and get back to you as I need to get intoo the locked storage to do so. I'm a happy chappy now as that is my boat on it's mooring for the season as of this morning.

chewy · 29 March 2009, 17:22

Happy days!

walruz · 01 April 2009, 07:33

Hi Chewy

The container says between 14 and 15 % concentrated.

Ian

chewy · 01 April 2009, 11:50

My plan of attack is to antifoul the outside and spray the inside of the hull with HCL.

Thanks Walruz

walruz · 01 April 2009, 12:38

I never have bothered with antifoul just spray the underside with the good old HCl about 3 - 4 times a year. This routine keeps the hull mostly clear. My mooring does dry out on most tides so it makes it easier to do.

Ian

chewy · 01 April 2009, 14:32

I work away alot so antifoul is the best option. In theory I should be able to get down to spray it but I'm lazy sometimes.