Dingy drainage....

[wazza]

At the moment we have an inflatable on our davits and that has a bung in the transom that allows rainwater to drain away. What I'd like to do is replace the inflatable with our Walker Bay 8. She's a fantastic little play thing that can sail as well as motor and row. But the dilemma is the rainwater as she doesn't have a drain hole... Ideas anyone.?

 

[Cloven]

At the moment we have an inflatable on our davits and that has a bung in the transom that allows rainwater to drain away. What I'd like to do is replace the inflatable with our Walker Bay 8. She's a fantastic little play thing that can sail as well as motor and row. But the dilemma is the rainwater as she doesn't have a drain hole... Ideas anyone.?

Three ideas come to mind:

Obvious one - can you fit a drain hole & plug in the transom like most sailing dinghies. Plugs & sockets are easily sourced from dinghy suppliers.

Second option would be to store the dinghy upside down. Not an option if you have an outboard and a bit of a hassle but might be possible.

Another option, fit a dinghy self drainer in the floor. As long as the dinghy is stowed flat, itshould drain most of the water

 

[wazza]

Three ideas come to mind:

Obvious one - can you fit a drain hole & plug in the transom like most sailing dinghies. Plugs & sockets are easily sourced from dinghy suppliers.

Second option would be to store the dinghy upside down. Not an option if you have an outboard and a bit of a hassle but might be possible.

Another option, fit a dinghy self drainer in the floor. As long as the dinghy is stowed flat, itshould drain most of the water

Number 1 doesn't go because there's a small wheel where that drain hole 'should' go so unable to fit it there..
Number 2 would be pretty impossible with the davits system we have..
Number 3 self drainer in the floor, I'm wondering how that'd be when afloat and using the boat. The water pressure, would it not pop the bung out.?
Are there any screw bungs that anyone knows of?

 

[philip_stevens]

Take your pick http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_sacat=0&_nkw=boat+drain+plugs&_frs=1

 

[Cloven]

Number 1 doesn't go because there's a small wheel where that drain hole 'should' go so unable to fit it there..
Number 2 would be pretty impossible with the davits system we have..
Number 3 self drainer in the floor, I'm wondering how that'd be when afloat and using the boat. The water pressure, would it not pop the bung out.?
Are there any screw bungs that anyone knows of?

Re 3 above, I was referring to a self bailer:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Andersen-...UK_Sporting_Goods_Sailing&hash=item2a38b58bba

Has an open/close shutter. Open to drain, close when on the water. However, if the dinghy ships a lot so water, it can be opened whilst on the water as long as there is reasonable forward motion and the water will drain out. Most racing dinghies are fitted with these.

 

[VicS]

Number 1 doesn't go because there's a small wheel where that drain hole 'should' go so unable to fit it there..
Number 2 would be pretty impossible with the davits system we have..
Number 3 self drainer in the floor, I'm wondering how that'd be when afloat and using the boat. The water pressure, would it not pop the bung out.?
Are there any screw bungs that anyone knows of?

1. Two drains , one either side of the wheel a possibility ? or a drain into the wheel housing ?? It would need the dinghy stowed bow up a bit what ever.
3. Agreed.
5. Dinghy self bailers sometimes/often/ususally tend to leak so might not be an attractive idea but a screw-in/ lock-in drain plug, as per Philip Stevens' link, might solve the problem.
7. What about a cover ??

 

[wazza]

Thanks gents. I think Philip's is the best alternative as I like the idea of it screwing in so I can't see it being pushed out by the pressure of the water underneath..

 

[Searush]

Thanks gents. I think Philip's is the best alternative as I like the idea of it screwing in so I can't see it being pushed out by the pressure of the water underneath..

You really haven't understood about dinghy self-bailers have you? They do not have any "bung" and "pressure from underneath" would close the chute anyway, although it generally doesn't because they are designed to resist water pressure as they use it to generate suction to clear any water inside the boat.

 

[Jungle Jim]

Google "wayfarer self bailers", they are designed to do exactly what you want.

 

[sarabande]

eeek ! The OP wants to let water out of a dinghy that is static, hoisted on davits.

"Self bailers" relying on the Venturi effect are not designed for that purpose. They are for boats moving fast through the water.

That is not to say an Elvstrom bailer, or similar , would not let the rainwater out, if it were left open. But I think such a bailer would not be a normal fitting on a Walker.

 

[VicS]

Walker Bay supply a drain plug, pt no 3000030176, as an accessory/ part of the sailing kit

It fits in the transom!

..... http://www.walkerbay.com/store/index.php?route=product/product&filter_name=drain&product_id=185

 

[TrailerSailer]

My Walker Bay has a standard screw type transom drain hole. I don't keep it on the davits for any length of time but you should be able to with only a couple of litres of water remaining in the dinghy with the drain plug unscrewed (sits in the bilge). I've never figured out how to reach out and refit the screw in bung before launching...

 

[Greenheart]

I've bought these excellent, very water-tight, inexpensive screw-in bungs for the transom side of my home-repaired stern compartment, because I doubt my carpentry will prevent leaks of seawater or even rainwater, over time:

The only issue will be how to locate or create a point in the OP's floor which the bung-socket can be situated in. I bought a 22mm drill-bit in order to put the socket through the 5mm ply with which I had repaired my boat's crudely-cut transom drain-holes. I would feel less happy, boring through the floor of a pricey tender like the OP's Walker Bay.

Self-bailers are pretty clever bits of kit, but they only belong in boats which will routinely operate at speed. Does that include the Walker Bay? I like WBs, but I think not.

I have two Anderson "Super Max" self-bailers in the Osprey and after ten trips, I've never reached a speed at which they let more water out, than in. Granted mine are old and bashed, but I reckon the OP wants a simple, seal-able bung-hole for after-use draining, not a system specifically designed to empty a rapid boat during demanding active use.

Since contributors here must have a perspective on bungs... ...can anyone think how I can secure my transom bung-sockets to the 5mm ply, when the only access to the other side of the ply will be via the 22mm holes? I want to strengthen the surface I'm drilling into, but it's hard to see how. Or will tiny screws and gobs of epoxy suffice? Thanks!

 

[VicS]

I've bought these excellent, very water-tight, inexpensive screw-in bungs for the transom side of my home-repaired stern compartment,

The only issue will be how to locate or create a point in the OP's floor which the bung-socket can be situated in.

On reflection I dont think it will be practical to mount that type of drain fitting in the floor. It will stick out too far.

The WB part or something very similar fitted in the transom is probably the way to go.

can anyone think how I can secure my transom bung-sockets to the 5mm ply, when the only access to the other side of the ply will be via the 22mm holes? I want to strengthen the surface I'm drilling into, but it's hard to see how. Or will tiny screws and gobs of epoxy suffice? Thanks!

Small self tappers and some epoxy should be fine. 5mm is a good thickness ... thicker that the panels of my Mirror which have drain fittings in them

 

[agurney]

You really haven't understood about dinghy self-bailers have you? They do not have any "bung" and "pressure from underneath" would close the chute anyway, although it generally doesn't because they are designed to resist water pressure as they use it to generate suction to clear any water inside the boat.

+1
self bailer left open would do the job; nice and dry on the move, and in the davits less likely to clog with dead leaves than a bung

 

[Daydream believer]

eeek ! The OP wants to let water out of a dinghy that is static, hoisted on davits.

"Self bailers" relying on the Venturi effect are not designed for that purpose. They are for boats moving fast through the water.

That is not to say an Elvstrom bailer, or similar , would not let the rainwater out, if it were left open. But I think such a bailer would not be a normal fitting on a Walker.

You are not entirely correct
I used to drain my boat out after washing down when on the trailer by opening the self bailer. If there is no pressure on the outside the water floods out
This would certainly be an option for the OP's boat but a bit more complicated to fit than , say, a screw in bung. Problem with the bung is that the op needs to get in the boat to screw it in if he cannot reach from on board the vessel. If the boat is on davits this may be a no no. & if he lowered it in the water first water would be flooding in before he got in the boat & fitted it.
With the self bailer he could do this by using the boat hook to reach & just hook the loop to open or close without getting in

When sailing you are correct the venturi effect removes the water . If the boat is going slow the water will flood back in the boat unless the neoprene flap in the orrifice fits well. It still tends let a bit in so at that point one would shut the bailer until the boat was moving again. Does not need a massive speed just enough to create the venturi effect

 

[chrisedwards]

dancrane's screw in bungs (post 13) fit very nicely inside the hollow keel - on the side not the bottom-of the walkerbay 8 - one forward and one aft.

 

[Greenheart]

Glad to hear it. But it'll want epoxy or Sikaflex to keep the water from getting between the bung-socket and the hole cut through the hull cavity.

When I lift one end of my boat up in the air, I sometimes hear a slosh of water running downhill. I don't know where it's trapped, but it can't be good for the GRP.

 

[ip485]

I also dont think the self bailer message has been understood.

They have been used in dinghys for ever and work really well. When parked up on the trailer the bailer is left open and there is no problem whatsoever with water accumulating - it justs runs out through the flap. When in the water the bailer is closed to form a seal - to be fair after time they can weep a bit, usually because bits of grit get caught and score the surface - but they are easy to replace and dont weep much. Open the bailer going along at anything more than a few knots and they effectively remove the water.

If one can be fitted it sounds to me like a very good solution and I cant see why it would be a problem.

 

[Greenheart]

I also dont think the self bailer message has been understood...to be fair after time they can weep a bit, usually because bits of grit get caught and score the surface...I cant see why it would be a problem.

Really?

If the Walker Bay is mainly to be sailed in a good breeze, I daresay a self-bailer will empty her...though the skipper must remember to haul the bailer into its closed position in lulls, because it is basically a hinged chute pointing downwards and astern - so if the boat goes slowly, the water is pressed back up the chute...

...the flap on the chute should prevent more than a few drips coming up...and the seals round the chute should prevent water coming in when the bailer is raised...

...but in practice, especially if the boat is mainly used as a tender, heavily laden and rowed rather slowly, a self-bailer will routinely let water dribble IN. They're not cheap, either.

Unless the OP is accustomed to significant quantities of water landing in the boat during use, when it is moving fast enough for a self-bailer to operate, he'd be far better-advised to stick with a bung he can unscrew to prevent rainwater accumulating. It's cheap, secure, easily fitted and won't leak a drop, until it is left open to empty rainwater.