Oops!

[jonmitch]

Hi Guys

I've got one of those crappy "autobaler" things with the ball valve. You know, the ones which do Jack!

Put the boat in the water on Thursday and then left her on a pontoon (drying) only to be phoned the next day to say that water had poured in through the damn thing. Now pumped out and bunged up temporarily.

2 questions.

1. is there anything i can do to get it to stop it leaking?
2. how easy would it be to fit a trunk using the same hole in the transom and do you have any advice how to do that for a complete novice (i.e. drilling into the transom, sealing etc)

Cheers

Jon

[wiLlfish]

Originally Posted by jonmitch

is there anything i can do to get it to stop it leaking?

i recummend fallowpiun toobs

yew cann blok dem upp wiv a eg

wilF

[doggypaddle]

Ribshop keep drain socks in a few different lengths and diameters, with the spigots too.
It should just be a case of removing the valve assembly and screwing the new sock spigot over the existing hole using stainless screws.
use sikaflex on the screw threads to seal them, and to seal up any holes that may be left by removing the valve to prevent moisture getting in where it shouldn't, and of course around the seal face of the spigot.
a camcleat to hold the sock up on the inside of the transom is useful too...

[jonmitch]

Thanks very much, thats really helpful.

Jon

[JABS]

Assuming you mean those things with a ping pong ball inside...

I removed the clear plastic housing and put a thin sheet of clear plastic from a document binder over the hole. Refitted the pastic bit and cut around with a scalpel.

No more problems

I suspect those things are great when brand new and spotlessly clean.

[Searider]

Originally Posted by jonmitch

Hi Guys

I've got one of those crappy "autobaler" things with the ball valve. You know, the ones which do Jack!

Put the boat in the water on Thursday and then left her on a pontoon (drying) only to be phoned the next day to say that water had poured in through the damn thing. Now pumped out and bunged up temporarily.

2 questions.

1. is there anything i can do to get it to stop it leaking?
2. how easy would it be to fit a trunk using the same hole in the transom and do you have any advice how to do that for a complete novice (i.e. drilling into the transom, sealing etc)

Cheers

Jon

Hi Jon,

Do you mean the clear plastic fitting with a ping pong ball inside?

If so, I fitted one to my 5.4 Searider and it worked fine. It's important to keep it clean and free of debris - a leaf or twig would jam it open. Also if the boat lives afloat it will soon become fouled and won't seal. My boat lived mostly on a trailer and so it didn't get fouled.

I found it to be really good in my application, although it looked like it wouldn't last more than a coupe of years. Had I kept the boat longer I reckon i'd have renewed it after two or thre seasons.

On a boat that often takes on a little water or spray I feel it was better than a trunk.

On a dry boat a trunk is simpler.

On a boat that stays afloat a trunk is more reliable.

[Alan]

Another thing to be wary of with the ping pong ball type bailers, is not to spill petrol on the deck and let it run through the bailer. If you do, the rubber part of it degrades and the thing lets water in. Happened to me years ago when a jerry can fell over whilst the boat was being trailed to Oban for a Scotrib event. We launched the boat that evening and the next day she was pretty much sunk! We changed to an elephants trunk arrangement after that.

[jonmitch]

Thanks guys, you've all been really helpful. I suspect the problem on this occasion is that its the first time the boat has sat on mud on a drying out pontoon. I suspect some rubbish has got in and bunged it up.

Jon