Mylar flap for transom drains

[Seajet]

As Dan knows, I used to have an Osprey myself.

I mentioned to my Dad today as we visited the chandlery that I wanted to look up the make of the hatch seal tape for ' a chum on the forums who's converting his Osprey for cruising '.

" Liveaboard ? "...

 

[EuanMcKenzie]

you could buy a bilge pump and some hose for less than £30 and a bucket + spare from B&Q for £1 seal the lot up and just go sailing....

Though I think iain C is right just fix the self bailers

If you want to camp, buy a festival kit from halfords and camp on the beach. How often are you going to do it?

Too much thinking and not enough sailing me thinks....

 

[Greenheart]

Gentlemen, I thank you all for your common sense and practical advice. At present I'm in a place where internet is largely unheard of, so I'm not as free as I would like to be, to acknowledge replies individually.

Let me state again (though by now, many will feel they know my boat as well as I do myself) that I realise, fully-functioning self-bailers are the preferred draining option for emptying dinghies.

Transom drains were not designed for the Osprey and really aren't an ideal solution - they're just something which a previous owner put in, and which I hope to perfect for such occasions as they might suit.

I'm not so financially hard-pressed that I can't order two new self-bailers, but if I can put sealing caps over the faulty bailers, the cockpit won't leak a drop, and on occasions when I need the bailers to drain large amounts of spray or green water left in after a capsize, all I'll need to do is unclip the covers and let the existing bailers work as they were designed to.

Thank you Iain, that sounds a good source of used functional kit, I'll look there.

To the chap who wondered what strange mutated variety of Osprey mine must be, the answer is yes and no...

...my general idea has been to turn the 40 year-old racer, long past her competitive best, into a fast, relaxed, versatile singlehanded cruiser which doesn't forego comfort (or require expensive kit) to attain rewarding performance. So far it's working.

I may just be launching on Monday if the weather is fair, so please don't imagine that my sailing is being delayed by fussing about a few faults. The change from racer to cruiser is ongoing and gradual - there's nothing lost by the time I'm taking to plan minor alterations. :encouragement: