I didn't expect that

[smert]

The blanking plug on our old boat needed a 1/4 turn once the locking ring was undone before it could be removed.

 

[Keith-i]

Don’t use butyl below the waterline. Sika 291 or equivalent.

 

[ibbo]

Instead of spending all the money you could try removing the threaded cap, and push the bung out the bottom?

 

[greeny]

I wondered that too but they've told me I can......

Local rules I guess. Common practice here. The skipper and crew are onboard anyway when the boat is launched do what's the difference. Sorry thread drift.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Local rules I guess. Common practice here. The skipper and crew are onboard anyway when the boat is launched do what's the difference. Sorry thread drift.

I have only been lifted out at two marinas but many times the procedure was always the same as soon as the slings were snugged up with the boat in the lifting dock I was required to climb over the pulpit and leave the boat.

 

[Praxinoscope]

It all changed for us about 8 years ago, prior to that crew were allowed to stay on board during the lift, have a photo somewhere of two of us on board being lifted over the club house so we were about 40’ up, but very different now, all crew off, as soon as slings are tight and confirmed that all OK.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

OK ....

All the through hulls I've fitted have cap only ..... interesting.

Regarding hammer and knocking it out ...... I would suggest care - especially if plastic through hull tube - to be sure not to crack or break the outer flange from tube.

On board in slings ? Never been refused that in UK or out here in Latvia.

How odd. I’ve fitted a lot of thru hull transducers, all have come with a blanking plug with O rings and a bayonet, plus a screw ring. Just the cap is bloody scary.

 

[Skylark]

It all changed for us about 8 years ago, prior to that crew were allowed to stay on board during the lift, have a photo somewhere of two of us on board being lifted over the club house so we were about 40’ up, but very different now, all crew off, as soon as slings are tight and confirmed that all OK.

I don’t think that I’d worry too much about the Elf & Safety police, common sense would keep me on terra firma ?

 

[Praxinoscope]

Strangely, over a period of 20 years of remaining on board during a lift never a single cut or bruise, since the new ‘off the boat regime’ managed to acquire several bruises and one cut hand getting off the boat before the lift.
I have been involved with the annual lift-in/ lift -out for almost 35 years, the only casualties have been the odd ‘mast mounted Windex and VHF aerial’ caught by the chains. We normally lift between 25 and 35 boats during the day placing them around the club and adjoining car park, usually with a 100 tonne crane.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Our boatyard get around this issue by stealth and speed. Blink, and the boat is fully propped in the yard. You don’t have time to get on.

 

[Supertramp]

I use silicone grease on the impellor body and threads. Two separate echosounder transducers. Big fan of standalone bits and duplicate systems so if one fails it's not a disaster. Probably goes with having an old boat.

I know I can technically remove it while afloat to clean but I wouldn't dare as too near electrics, not great access and too scary. After about 6 months the reading is less accurate but I ignore it and use the various GPS units making my own judgement about tide speed etc. I can clean it while swimming if I ever have to (and assuming it's summer!).

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Ha ha, too scary, by half! A few years back, I was asked to sail on an 8M in British Classics week as it now is, Panerai back then. My first job was to put the impeller in.

 

[Refueler]

How odd. I’ve fitted a lot of thru hull transducers, all have come with a blanking plug with O rings and a bayonet, plus a screw ring. Just the cap is bloody scary.

Nasa Clipper ..... Echopilot ...... are just two examples ..... with cap to close of through hull.

Here's a Nasa cap :

Nasa Marine Spare Speed Log Sealing Blanking Cap Only

Even my Seafarer was cap only many years ago.

Cap in fact is not scary ... its all in the mind ... have used more than once and its fine. You don't even need to make tight ... as long as its on a few turns - its fine.

 

[dankilb]

I have only been lifted out at two marinas but many times the procedure was always the same as soon as the slings were snugged up with the boat in the lifting dock I was required to climb over the pulpit and leave the boat.

I'd expect that for a lift out (or in). (Excluding club yards, that is...)

But I would be pretty peeved if a yard wouldn't lift my boat a few feet while it was still in/over the water. My original point was more to suggest that messing about with skin fittings while in the lift bay offers a bit of a safety margin. No need to go hauling boats up onto the hard - as much as good yards make it look easy - if it can be avoided. IMO.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Thought we might have heard something by now.

 

[Dave 71]

All's well that ends well.....

Boat was lifted, just needed to step off whilst the cradle went up the slip. once there I could set up my ladder and get on and off as much as I liked.

The bung popped out after three taps with a mallet and stick. I was surprised, given how tightly it seemed to be jammed pulling from above. I thought I was going to be there for hours and had steeled myself for staying ashore and replacing the through hull.

There isn't any damage to the through hull, or the bung and the transducer is now back in. Pressure wash the hull and replace the prop anodes and back in later today.

I have identified the cause of the jam. Basically user stupidity. I knew the transducer needed to be correctly aligned but it just didn't occur to me that the bung would too. I thought I was putting a cylinder into a circular hole. I did examine the bung before starting the process, but just didn't register the little flanges at the top. The top of the bung, a sort of cap, very loose, had come off, I later found it whilst mopping out the bilge. This has the direction arrow. Strangely, the transducer itself doesn't have a direction arrow.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Good result, one lives and learns.