Leaking elephant trunk

JonnyR · 26 June 2018, 12:57

Hi there. One of my elephant trunks has a small split below the waterline. The RIB is in a marina during the season and the tiny trickle is enough to flood the deck over a period of time. Both trunks will be replaced when the boat comes out at the end of the season so the problem will go away. In the meantime however, I need a temporary repair to bung the leaky trunk hole in the transom. Unfortunately the hole is oval in shape and not round so finding something that can be used (in wet conditions) becomes a little trickier. An oval-shaped bung might do it and cutting one to the right size should do the job. Before I do that, can anyone think of an alternative that might be easier?
Many thanks.

Last Tango · 26 June 2018, 13:03

Self-amalgamating tape ?

JonnyR · 26 June 2018, 13:27

Oooh, thanks Last Tango. I've never heard of the term self-amalgamating before so had to Google it!! So I guess the suggestion would be to wrap the tape around the trunk to create a watertight seal? Could this be applied under water (the split is below the waterline)? Also, although the trunk will be in the up position and not deployed when underway (the other trunk is fine to drain the deck), could the tape hold with the wash and spray that will be around the transom?
At least I now know what self-amalgamating means!!

Pikey Dave · 26 June 2018, 14:58

Or an expanding bung on the inside

Last Tango · 26 June 2018, 18:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonnyR

Oooh, thanks Last Tango. I've never heard of the term self-amalgamating before so had to Google it!! So I guess the suggestion would be to wrap the tape around the trunk to create a watertight seal? Could this be applied under water (the split is below the waterline)? Also, although the trunk will be in the up position and not deployed when underway (the other trunk is fine to drain the deck), could the tape hold with the wash and spray that will be around the transom?
At least I now know what self-amalgamating means!!

It sticks to it's self more so than to any surface so kind of depends where your split is.

As Pikey says. If you can get at the inside it might be easier just to find or make a bung and stick it in the hole. A ball or something similar. I'd guess it's about 90mm in diameter and I've not seen an expanding bung big enough for that but maybe I've just led a sheltered life.

Pikey Dave · 26 June 2018, 18:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Last Tango

It sticks to it's self more so than to any surface so kind of depends where your split is.

As Pikey says. If you can get at the inside it might be easier just to find or make a bung and stick it in the hole. A ball or something similar. I'd guess it's about 90mm in diameter and I've not seen an expanding bung big enough for that but maybe I've just led a sheltered life.

How big do you wanna go?[emoji6]
https://www.mad4tools.com/centre-loc...CABEgKOWfD_BwE

Wightdiver · 26 June 2018, 18:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

How big do you wanna go?[emoji6]
https://www.mad4tools.com/centre-loc...CABEgKOWfD_BwE

But can you get an oval one?

Pikey Dave · 26 June 2018, 18:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wightdiver

But can you get an oval one?

An air bag type would fit an oval hole. I wouldn't stick fast[emoji6]
http://m.thesafetysupplycompany.co.u...iABEgJcS_D_BwE

Orwell boy · 26 June 2018, 20:13

If you want to block the hole either blow a mini football up with a 12v compressor while in the hole ,or make a bung by filling a laytex glove with aerosol expanding foam while in the hole ,

JonnyR · 27 June 2018, 08:14

Thanks Pikey Dave. The expanding bung could work if the hole was round but unfortunately it's more of an oval/oblong shape and finding a bung that will fit could be a bit of a problem!

JonnyR · 27 June 2018, 08:17

That's an interesting idea Orwell Boy. I had thought of expanding foam but realised it could a) make quite a mess and b) be a problem to use if the area is wet. Using it inside a dry glove in the hole certainly makes sense. I might try that - thanks!!

paulbrown22 · 27 June 2018, 08:48

Just dry it out on a beach one day and replace the elephant's trunk sooner rather than wait until you lift the boat? Or can you borrow someone's Versadock/floating dock or trailer for an hour and just get it out the water enough to replace or repair the elephant's trunk?

JonnyR · 27 June 2018, 09:53

Thanks for the suggestion to take it out of the water for a short time to swap the trunk. That was my plan until I found out that they will need to be made to order so the boat would have to come out first to take the accurate dimensions and then again after the trunks had been made up and so I've decided to do all of that at the end of the season.
In fact that raises another question - finding someone who is experienced at making elephant trunks! I've made a couple of enquiries but haven't got very far...

paulbrown22 · 27 June 2018, 10:10

Can't Highfield sell you one, if it's a standard production boat, or just measure off another Highfield? There are other Highfield owners on here who could possibly measure for you, if that's impossible while the boat is in the water.

Any of the tube manufacturers like Henshaws, Tilley, etc., will make an elephant's trunk, and I thought Henshaws offer some standard sized (and probably circular) ones on their website. But if Highfield use some special oval shape, then you may need something custom made.

JonnyR · 27 June 2018, 10:34

Thanks again for another great suggestion! Highfield have changed the design of the trunk and hole in the transom which is now round and I've been told that they would need to be ordered from the factory which could take 8 weeks. That's a possibility now I'm going to wait to the end of the season assuming they can supply the old design.

paulbrown22 · 27 June 2018, 15:59

It was worth a try!

I guess if you could dry the RIB out on a beach, or borrow a Versadock/trailer temporarily, you could at least take some measurements or make a template of the weird shape, and get one of the local tube companies to make something, and then repeat to install.

Jeff · 27 June 2018, 16:20

I must be missing something but isn't an oval /elipse just a flattened circle?! Measure the circumference of the oval outlet tube, make or buy a 'round' one from hypalon of the same circumference ( π x d) and it should slide over the oval spigot? Then again, I must be missing something [emoji848]

Pikey Dave · 27 June 2018, 16:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff

I must be missing something but isn't an oval /elipse just a flattened circle?! Measure the circumference of the oval outlet tube, make or buy a 'round' one from hypalon of the same circumference ( π x d) and it should slide over the oval spigot? Then again, I must be missing something [emoji848]

I gave up too[emoji57]

Davie · 27 June 2018, 18:50

Jonny. Look at Barton marine "Clamseal" part number 60 001.

beamishken · 27 June 2018, 23:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulbrown22

It was worth a try!

I guess if you could dry the RIB out on a beach, or borrow a Versadock/trailer temporarily, you could at least take some measurements or make a template of the weird shape, and get one of the local tube companies to make something, and then repeat to install.

You dont even need the boat out the water you can reach over the transom to measure the circumference then order a trunk to suit. You could probably each over to jubilee clip it in to place, in an ideal world you'd glue it too but that could be done at the end of the season when the boat is out anyway