Searider Deluxe Help

[Sprouty]

Good afternoon fellow RIBbers

I am seeking a little knowledge and understanding. Some months ago I purchased an old but very tidy SR4 Deluxe with original seats and in very tidy condition for its age. The previous owner has blocked the flooding hull for better off the line response. Last week a friend and I did a first launch at Knott End which was entertaining to say the least. Too much tide running and not ideal at all. Anyway, thats another story.

My question, at the rear of the deck my boat has a central hole that looks very original and drains into the sealed flooding chamber. Can anyone confirm if this is original? I am tempted to open up the flooding hull to improve the general stability at rest, it was bobbing about like a cork without it. Obviously I don't want to do this if it means that the upper deck partly floods as well. Bascially I have no idea how far the boat will settle if the flooding hull is reinstated.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers

Russ.

[Max...]

Welcome, when you say you have a ‘hole’ (which is factory normal) - presuming it is blocked with a bung if they have as you say blocked it?

Can you post some pics?

[Sprouty]

Thanks for the reply Max.

Unfortunately the boat is stored some distance away so photos at the moment are not possible.

I was perhaps expaining too much. What I want to establish is do SR4 Deluxe with the moulded in transom braces have a drain hole in the actual deck just in front of the transom. Its approx 25mm diameter and is well finished with a grommet. It doesn't look like it's been added by the previous owner but who knows?

Russ.

[Max...]

Ahh, apologies - I was not reading properly and thought you were referring to the standard transom hole - see here:

https://www.rib.net/forum/f8/avon-se...ing-74739.html

I don't believe the factory put a hole in the deck as you are saying but people drill all manner of random holes into boats once they leave the manufacturer!

A bit quiet on the SR front here these days but loads and loads of info on them from past years as many members owned them - try some searching eg here:

https://www.rib.net/forum/f8/floodin...der-31098.html

https://www.google.com/search?q=sear...&dpr=1.25#ip=1

[Sprouty]

After some searching I've managed to find an image of another SR4 with what looks like an identical hole.



Visible where the shadow of the cable loom almost meets the cable loom just above the edge of the seat. A black grommet through the deck.

That passes directly through to the flooding chamber and I guess allows water shipped onboard to drain directly out. I assume the buoyancy is adequate to prevent water coming in when at rest.

[A1an]

early seariders had two holes in the deck that went through to the flooding hull, holes were plugged with expanding bungs.

https://www.rib.net/forum/f8/1978-av...ion-47971.html

[Sprouty]

Hi Alan
Thanks for that. Your restoration looked good I must say.
I'm thinking of doing a similar mod to my flooding hull. It's currently permanently blocked with a small drain plug. I like the idea of using the inspection cover to make it optional. Did yours work OK longterm?

[A1an]

Originally Posted by Sprouty

Hi Alan
Thanks for that. Your restoration looked good I must say.
I'm thinking of doing a similar mod to my flooding hull. It's currently permanently blocked with a small drain plug. I like the idea of using the inspection cover to make it optional. Did yours work OK longterm?

It seemed to work ok. never got any water inside but then again it was trailered everywhere and never moored.

[Sprouty]

Thanks Alan. I'll give it a go. It'll be on a tidal mooring for up to a week so I'll be able to check it periodically and drain it if needed. Appreciate the reply.

[Barrel Rider]

I have that drain hole in my sr4, water will come up through it and start to fill the deck if you've forgotten to put the bung in before launching...

[Sprouty]

Barrel, that is interesting. I was kind of hoping that wasn't the case but there you go. I do have a bung for it, one with the top lever to expand it when in place. In your experience do they stay in securely? I suppose you could always get on the move and drain the hull if there is any flooding.
Thanks for taking the time to reply.
Russ

[Barrel Rider]

yes they're very secure, takes a good bit of wiggling to try and remove