Taking on water, in a RIB?

[amityslave]

I have noticed that my boat takes in a fair bit of water (undo the bungs and watch it pour out, but does not pour out of anywhere else). Although performance doesn't seem to be badly affected, I would like to know if its normal for a RIB to take on so much (more than a few gallons) water?
All seams/joints appear sound (inboard and outboard), hull is not holed, bungs are tight and have seals.... just can't work out how it's getting in!
Any ideas greatly appreciated.

[Pikey Dave]

leaky bungs?

[amityslave]

Hi Pikey, bungs are good both new and well bonded to hull with sealing rings intact on threads.
I wonder if it can get past the tube/hull joints anywhere, but have checked all round.

[ashbypower]

Mmm seems excessive to me.
Ours take on ZERO after spending time on a mooring..

[m chappelow]

Leaking bow through hull eye or U bolt perhaps.

[amityslave]

All through hull fittings are sound.
I can only think it must be bung problems, despite regular checking. Can anyone explain how the tube/hull joint is made, I think I know but I might be missing something here.

[Dry Run]

In the last ten years of dry stack launching and recovering 100's of ribs, I would have to say that with a very, very few exceptions, all ribs take on water. How it gets there I don't know - like you it doesn't appear to come out anywhere else.

I suspect it's a combination of deck fittings, through hull fittings, bungs, tears of joy from the lucky owners, etc.

Out of interest, the ONLY rib we have that NEVER has any water in the bilges is a 5.5m Tornado. That actually has the opposit in as much as when you take the bung out it lets out a small amount of pressurised air!!!! You might guess what it's nickname is!

[amityslave]

Thanks Dry Run,
Wish mine only farted when de-bunged.... and the rib.
I think an auto bilge pump is in order (manual already fitted but takes the fun out of ribbing).
Nice to know its not just mine, I was wondering if I'd bought a pup.

[boristhebold]

Rain,Rain,Rain + washing down boat afte use + more rain, rain, rain, + any sea water, spray from a run out.

If it has rained a lot there is usually a good stream coming out.

The guys at Cobbs Quay Dry Stack do an excellent job, each time boat is put back the transom bung/plug is removed and each time it's taken onto the fork lifts for putting back in the water they wait a minute or two for the rain water to drain out before fitting the transom bung/plug back in. Even with a good cover fitted rain water will get in and you will be surprised how much water collects.

Perhaps do a test, wait for a few rainey days and measure amount coming out and also leave in water for a few days and measure what comes out, through combination of testing you might find where the problem lies but might be difficult.

[amityslave]

Nice thought, but the cover has never let anything in (even this year!), the take up is always when in the water and/or under way.

Nothing to get damaged by it... just like to know.

[Bittentobuggery]

Originally Posted by amityslave

Nothing to get damaged by it....

Corrosion of the fuel tank would concern me if it's salt water.

I used to own a Ribtec 585 which suffered really badly from water ingress, with no apparent cause. Before commissioning a new 7.4m Ribtec from Tim Wilkes, I expressed my concern about water ingress and he told me they had solved the problem (and they had) but I am still none the wiser.

[boristhebold]

what about any gaps between the hull and where the tubes are attached ?

[amityslave]

Originally Posted by Bittentobuggery

Corrosion of the fuel tank would concern me if it's salt water.

I used to own a Ribtec 585 which suffered really badly from water ingress, with no apparent cause. Before commissioning a new 7.4m Ribtec from Tim Wilkes, I expressed my concern about water ingress and he told me they had solved the problem (and they had) but I am still none the wiser.

Fuel tanks are portable plastic jobbies under the bench seat so not prone to getting wet/corroded.
It seems from replies so far that it's a bit of a common problem, not something to be too concerned about (its not like you can sink a RIB that easily!).
And yes, I have checked the joins/seams between hull and tubes....
It must just materialise in there all by itself!

[Hightower]

The only time I got gallons of water in the bilge was when I stuffed a wave and the deck water drained in to the bilge from a deck fitting. Do you have any leaking deck fittings?

[Silverfox]

Originally Posted by Dry Run

In the last ten years of dry stack launching and recovering 100's of ribs, I would have to say that with a very, very few exceptions, all ribs take on water. How it gets there I don't know - like you it doesn't appear to come out anywhere else.

I suspect it's a combination of deck fittings, through hull fittings, bungs, tears of joy from the lucky owners, etc.

Out of interest, the ONLY rib we have that NEVER has any water in the bilges is a 5.5m Tornado. That actually has the opposit in as much as when you take the bung out it lets out a small amount of pressurised air!!!! You might guess what it's nickname is!

My Osprey doesn't take in any water into the bilge, so now I am think that there must be a lip (depth) from the brass bung to the bilge floor - is there? Because if there is I'll need to lift my nose up more at after each outing.

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by Silverfox

My Osprey doesn't take in any water into the bilge, so now I am think that there must be a lip (depth) from the brass bung to the bilge floor - is there? Because if there is I'll need to lift my nose up more at after each outing.

Had my Vipermax for 5 years, never had water in the bilges....Not Ever! I used to check but haven't for over a year. I think I'll check after writing this

[HughN]

What about the joint between the console and the hull?

I chased a similar leak for ages and it turned out to be spray / rain creeping between the console and the floor and thence into the holes for wiring / steering cables in the console.

[kerny]

One common problem is that water will run down the cables coming out from the witches hat screwed down at stern to feed into the engine. I use self amalgamating tape to help prevent this, you will be surprised how much water runs down there.

[HughN]

Originally Posted by kerny

...the witches hat...

"member of the nocturnal magic community" p-leez!

[TonyC]

No water in our XS RIB, though I still check the bung occasionally.

The Atlantic 21 leaked quite regularly though I think they sorted that now.