Dinghy skin fitting?

[GrandadPig]

I have a 14’ Lune Pilot dinghy I am planning to leave in a swinging mooring, with a good rain cover and the mast un-stepped.

I don’t trust the cheap little dinghy drain plug.

can anyone suggest a really good quality fitting I could fit instead? She has no centre board and 80kg of lead ballad in the keel and will go down like a brick I would think if she leaks.

thanks

 

[Greenheart]

I ought to know more than I do about the Lune Pilot, because it's my kind of versatile design. Are they known not to float when swamped?

If that's the case, it might be prudent to fit conveniently positioned buoyancy bags, as much for your own safety when sailing, as to keep her afloat if she swamps while moored.

Regarding the drain plug, if it's the standard black plastic twist-fitting, I don't think you need to be afraid of it failing. If there is any danger, it could be around the plug-socket which needs to have been fitted carefully, but even then, a generous splodge of Sikaflex will seal potential leaks.

 

[GrandadPig]

Thanks for replying. She is a remarkable little boat. Draws nothing but makes very little lee way on a reach. Being a Luger she does not point over high but the ease of rigging her unstayed mast and the ability to let fly and spill wind on a run more than makes up for it for me.

Bill Bailey, who made her, took a mould from a working boat, but he sadly passed away some years ago and there is very little information about her class. Character Boats make modern posh versions that have very little in common with the original working boats.

there are two built in buoyancy tanks but they are not very big and look as if they are structural stiffeners rather than safety features. I will take up your suggestion and put some buoyancy bags under the side thwarts . I will also buy new drain plugs and a tube of Sikaflex.

Cheers

Steve