scuppers and trunks

[codprawn]

Yes I know it has been covered quite a few times in the past but wouldn't mind an update - the time has come for me to decide what are the best transom drains!!!

On a deep V hull I suppose the lower the drain the better - I was thinking about a trunk type backed up with 2 ball type valves - anyone know the best make and place to buy these valves from???

I know elephants trunks work but are there any preffered setups? Some commercial rescue boats seem to have moulded rubber ones that look a lot more purposefull than the normal bit of tubing.

Obviously the ultimate would be no transom at all but can't afford an Ocean Dynamics boat yet and I don't think my outboard would last very long if I started cutting out chunks with a chainsaw!!!

[Pete7]

The beauty of the elephant trunks is they are so simple, whilst the ball thingys don't seem to do to well if you spill petrol on the deck. Since your building a new boat worth thinking about having two fitted (bit like girls with shoes, you can never have enough ) as the cost is minimal during the build stage.

Pete

[tue]

I have 2 of the ball things. I got them from international Marine Supplies. They seem to work for me, but are situated at deck level and above the water line. I have fitted a ball type to another RIB at work which is below the water line and at rest there were no leaks coming in. Don't know what it'll be like after 6 months underwater though when it gets a little fouled.

[Andy]

This sounds obvious BUT: Make sure the trunk is long enough that when in the up position in a loaded boat its above the water line. A humber our dive club owned used to sit on the dive site taking on water as the trunk did not clear the water as i should have! Even slight waves would lap over the top.

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by tue

I have 2 of the ball things. I got them from international Marine Supplies. They seem to work for me, but are situated at deck level and above the water line. I have fitted a ball type to another RIB at work which is below the water line and at rest there were no leaks coming in. Don't know what it'll be like after 6 months underwater though when it gets a little fouled.

Some of the ones I have seen are easily removed for cleaning - just a quick twist of the cover.

Have you got a link to the people you bought them from???

Thanks!!!

[Alan]

on the ping pong ball scuppers. As Pete7 says they don't survive any petrol spilt on the deck. What happens is that the gaskets in them harden when in contact with petrol and no longer form a tight seal around the ball and let water in at rest. I had them on my DS21 and they were a pain in the ring - the boat actually damn near sank in Dunstaffnage Marina once!

My preference would be for the tried and tested elephant trunk - pref two of them with a reasonable bore. Plus at least one, poss two decent sized electric bilge pumps. And a bucket. (The fastest method of clearing water from a flooded boat - a frightened man and a bucket! )

Alan

[codprawn]

As my boat is petrol then maybe I will avoid the ping pong ones - elephants trunks are pretty foolproof if they are long enough!!!

Boat will have 2 bilge pumps as it is being built to mca specs.

[tue]

Originally Posted by codprawn

Some of the ones I have seen are easily removed for cleaning - just a quick twist of the cover.

Have you got a link to the people you bought them from???

Thanks!!!

http://www.internationalmarinesupplies.co.uk/

[codprawn]

Thanks - very useful site but can't find any of the drains!!! Prob stopped doing them.

[Tim M]

I'm curious about this length business......


I've seen trunks which seem to be pretty standard and are probably what are all thinking of, whereby, there's a bit of hypalon glued into a tube shape which has to be kept up to avoid water entering the boat.

My trunks are flat (two pieces of pvc heat welded together), and are quite short (300mm ish). When the boat is at rest, they sit under water, but, because they are flat, water does not enter. However, when the boat is going on, they are not in the water, and so any water on deck drains out of them. This works really well, so why don’t' more people use them?!