attaching buoyancy bags to clinker dinghy

[girlfriday]

Hello, can anyone advise me as to the best way to attach inflatable buoyancy bags to a clinker (Tideway) dinghy?
I'm thinking it ought to be something quite strong (perhaps wooden battens, screwed on rather than glued, with webbing attached to them?) but at the same time I'm reluctant to drill too many holes in my boat! Any ideas? The buoyancy bags are going under the seats along the sides, and a little one in the bow.
Thanks.

 

[DinghyMan]

In my Enterprise they are held in by 1inch webbing screwed through with washers to spread the load at the end. The Ent has thicker bits of wood running along the dinghy and the webbing is fastened with 3/4" screws and brass srew cups.

As we have spent a good bit of time in the water rather than on it I know it pays to fasten them in well as they give a lot of lit when you are swamped. If you sail an Ent you need to know how to swim /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Picture Here

 

[Mirelle]

I don't have a Tideway, but I do have another clinker boat, so these are general remarks. I would think that the thwart riser ( the fore and aft member running across the ribs to which the seats are attached) would make an outer and upper securing point. Whether the bottom boards riser is strong enough for the lower point may be more of an issue!

 

[Skyva_2]

You can obtain webbing straps and plastic or metal retainers in a dinghy store. Use independent straps rather than one continuous loop. Screwing the retainers on to a batten or pad is a good idea, though I have seen them screwed on to the lands of the clinker planks. You don't say how big the bags are or what lift they generate, but make sure the fastenings are adequate - you can test it by flooding the dinghy and turning it on both sides in turn - preferably with the weight of two bodies in place. You don't want to find out any weakness the hard way!

 

[girlfriday]

Thanks very much for the advice. Sounds like I am thinking along the right lines then! I will make sure I do some serious testing.

 

[TigaWave]

On my old Merlin plastic fittings take roughly a 1" wide strap, they have a screw at each end. Mine are screwed with self tappers into the hull where the slats of the hull overlap. Thats been strong enough as it's had mnany capsizes in its time.

I use three straps ber bag to spread the load.