Flooded

Red Scorpion · 14 April 2016, 06:02

Help ! So it seems that the two drain plugs were removed from the back of my rib (I'm blaming the kids). After removing at least ten buckets (at least) from the hull and another three from the deck, I notice that the automatic bilge pump may be full of silt (I can hear a soft whirl as I manually engaged it but nothing more.) My question therefore is, without the bilge pump and with the "average" rain fall that we may get over the next two days, do I run the risk of flooding again if I tackle the job of clearing the pump (and batteries) over the weekend. Or should I just get someone in to do it now ?

ShinyShoe · 14 April 2016, 06:26

Is she afloat? Does she have a cover? How badly flooded was she with 13buckets?

I haven't studied the weather but doubt you will get another 13buckets in 2 days.

Red Scorpion · 14 April 2016, 06:34

She was afloat , just sitting really low.. I walked out to her in low tide and saw that the deck had a few buckets worth of dirty water and under the bench seat had silt deposit all over. I opened the inspection hatch and managed to clear (most) about 10 buckets of water from her hull.

No cover I'm afraid. And with looking at the rain, wondering if I need the job done straight away ... What do owners without auto bilges do ?

Wightdiver · 14 April 2016, 12:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Scorpion

Help ! So it seems that the two drain plugs were removed from the back of my rib (I'm blaming the kids). After removing at least ten buckets (at least) from the hull and another three from the deck, I notice that the automatic bilge pump may be full of silt (I can hear a soft whirl as I manually engaged it but nothing more.) My question therefore is, without the bilge pump and with the "average" rain fall that we may get over the next two days, do I run the risk of flooding again if I tackle the job of clearing the pump (and batteries) over the weekend. Or should I just get someone in to do it now ?

Cant see it being a problem if you can get there at the weekend. Where is the silt coming from? When I get rain water in my boat it is always cristal clear.

Red Scorpion · 14 April 2016, 12:52

I assumed because the drain plugs were out, (for apporx 20 days) and it is a tidal (drying) mooring, it simply washed in. Then the water slowly got under the seat and into the hull.

I also assume that the silt water then clogged the auto bilge, further adding to the problems.

I will go down there tonight in low tide and see if I can clear the bilge (a new one for a novice like me).

just worried about how much falling rain actually fills a rib.

Poly · 14 April 2016, 16:52

Your rib probably has a footprint of <12m2 so for every mm of rain fall it will, at worst, get 12L of rain water.

jeffstevens763@g · 14 April 2016, 18:53

Why not clear out the bilge pump?

gtflash · 14 April 2016, 20:25

Is it a scorpion? They dont usually have bungs except to deck

Red Scorpion · 14 April 2016, 22:38

I am hoping to clear the bilge (never tackled this job before) tomorrow or sat ... Yes it's an early 6.5 scorpion ... It was the two bungs to the deck set either side of the bilge . They were out and over time it seems that the flappy return thingy has gone missing. .. The brass hull plug is still in, but it also seemed that with water coming into the boat it was draining in to the hull. I've cleared most of that, so tackling the bilge sould be next. All fun and games.

gtflash · 15 April 2016, 14:47

http://www.rib.net/forum/f8/self-dra...nic-24889.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Scorpion

I am hoping to clear the bilge (never tackled this job before) tomorrow or sat ... Yes it's an early 6.5 scorpion ... It was the two bungs to the deck set either side of the bilge . They were out and over time it seems that the flappy return thingy has gone missing. .. The brass hull plug is still in, but it also seemed that with water coming into the boat it was draining in to the hull. I've cleared most of that, so tackling the bilge sould be next. All fun and games.

I feel ur pain