Bunged up?

[tudorsailor]

While sailing off Mallorca a few weeks ago I heard a Pan Pan for a yacht taking on water. Yesterday the man who looks after my yacht in Mallorca told me of one of his other yachts taking on water when a corroded through-hull fitting broke. Lots of damage done. As a newbe yacht owner, it got me thinking. I have bungs on the yacht, but all in one place. Is the council of perfection to have one attached to each through-hull fitting. The previous owner obviously did not think so. What is the recommended way of attaching each bung to the fitting?

Thanks

TudorDoc

 

[jerryat]

We have the relevant wooden tapered bungs attached to each seacock by a bit of line, and clearly marked with their location - just in case the line breaks.

This way there's no desperate searching or panic if the seacock gives way. Never needed to use the things yet, but they're there in case!!!

 

[FullCircle]

second jerryat's post. Also, I keep a mallet where 4 off my through hulls are( hanging by a cord, but not attached), and another mallet under the floor next to the engine inlet to service the other 3 holes in the boat. As these are only £2 each at the camping shop....

 

[tudorsailor]

Not sure I understood the bit about marking the location in case the line breaks. What exactly are you marking?

Thanks

TudorDoc

 

[capnsensible]

OK you then have a bung by each hull valve. On a bit of string, whatever. If one pops, water is giving it max in a small space and then you are trying your best endeavours to get the floaty wooden bit on the end of that bit of string to comply.
Personally, my experience has been to have all the necessary bits (bungs, jubilee clips,, hammer, screwdiver, tampons, duct tape, etc) in a handy bag. It always leaks where you least expect it!!

 

[Kawasaki]

Sensible,capnsensible.
Where do You keep the handy bag handy?
How big is said handy bag and how big is the biggest bung?
Handy to know.
Serious I,m serious.
Cos one Day it could be Serious.
And from Me this is Serious!

 

[capnsensible]

OK, seriously..... Whaddya need when the life is taking a turn. Well in the cockpit locker, that you normally are sat on, or near. Fags, lighter. Fire extinguisher. Bucket. Things to bung up a leak. Epirb. Water. Passports and a credit card plus, sadly, a fist full of dollars. Knowing your liferaft is readily deployed and in date for test. Then I relax. Sort of.

 

[misterg]

(To nobody in particular)

What size are your bungs? Sized to fit inside the hose-tail in case the hose leaks and the seacock can't be closed, or sized to fit the hole in the hull that would be there if the through-hull disintegrated?

Both?

Andy

 

[capnsensible]

You won't be wrong if you take the best variety you can get. It may be the valve, the pipe or the whole thing falling in, or in the case of the prop shaft, out!! Be prepared.

 

[Searush]

These yachts with a a problem, what were they made of?

In 30 years, the bronze fittings in my GRP (AWB) show no sign whatsoever of deterioration. I doubt they will suddenly fall out.

'Course one big benefit of having a bilge keeler in an area of big tides is that I can wander round & check them from the outside on a regular basis.

 

[MoodySabre]

My previous boat was a Snappy with bronze skin-fittings. When we had an insurance survey they pointed out that the bolts in the heads fittings were brass and were nearly eaten away. Not obvious when the boat was out 2 years before.

Difficult to draw the line about worrying - I suppose it depends what kind of sailing you do - although having said that a broken skin-fitting could be just as dangerous half a mile off shore as 500 miles. I've got a few bungs and a hammer lurking about somewhere....

 

[Talbot]

too many swindleries are selling cheap through hulls that are not bronze. some Gunmetal might be acceptable if you change them frequently, and marelon is getting a reasonable reputation, but any brass in the fitting will cause problems.

 

[Pads38]

Can I recommend a training course that is run at the navy base in Portsmouth - I think it's called Battle Damage Repair or similar.

It takes place inside a simulated warship with holes in, and the whole thing is on hydraulic jacks so rocks about. Then the water starts flooding in. And you have to seal up the holes with bungs/cushions/anything.

It is apparently required for all serving navy folk and is highly realistic. (The water is COLD).

Pads

 

[misterg]

[ QUOTE ]
You won't be wrong if you take the best variety you can get. It may be the valve, the pipe or the whole thing falling in, or in the case of the prop shaft, out!! Be prepared.

[/ QUOTE ]

I carved the ones I've got to suit the bore of the hose-tails, but they're all with the toolbox, not tied to the sea-cocks (only got 3 of them - err.... plus the log and the sounder..)

P'raps I better get a bigger bit of wood and sharpen my whittling knife /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Andy

 

[jerryat]

[ QUOTE ]
Not sure I understood the bit about marking the location in case the line breaks. What exactly are you marking?

Thanks

TudorDoc

[/ QUOTE ]

Each wooden bung has it's location on it, e.g. 'galley', 'heads inlet' etc etc. Done with a black permanent ink felt tip, it's clear to read and immoveable!

 

[jerryat]

[ QUOTE ]
(To nobody in particular)

What size are your bungs? Sized to fit inside the hose-tail in case the hose leaks and the seacock can't be closed, or sized to fit the hole in the hull that would be there if the through-hull disintegrated?

Both?

Andy

[/ QUOTE ]

If you think about it, the standard tapered bungs will cover both the actual seacock through-hull aperture and it's attached hose. On our boat, the through hulls are stripped, checked, greased and reassembled every year. They are replaced if there is any sign of deterioration.

For example, last year both the heads Blakes (large and small) were replaced as the tapered sections were showing signs of corrosion after 22 years insitu.

However, s**t happens (excuse the pun!) so when full time cruising, we also carry a set of additional bungs large enough to seal the actual hole in the hull that would appear if the whole seacock disappeared! Like another here, these are kept in bag in the battery compartment adjacent to the companionway. We only have five through hulls so it's a small bag!