Seabung on Dragons' Den

[parbuckle]

What you are paying for is the idea plus marketing costs and if you dont make a quick profit someone else will reproduce a similar device ane sell on Ebay for a fraction of the price. I dreamed up a similar device but with a small inflatable balloon , I had seen surveyors use it to test drains by sealing them and then pressuring to detect a leak. If you decide to patent manufacture and market an idea you had better get it right or you will soon run out of money.

 

[Talulah]

Good luck to them. I saw them at the Southampton Boat Show and wish them success.
I remember when the Waterbouy was on Dragons Den and they got bit of a slating on here.
I wonder if Seabung having had the publicity will do the same as Waterbouy and not go ahead with the Dragons tie up.
(How are Waterbouy doing these days?)

 

[parbuckle]

(How are Waterbouy doing these days?)[/QUOTE]

Sunk?

 

[westernman]

Having bungs for through hulls is a requirement for coding. I have a set of wooden ones.

 

[Talulah]

(How are Waterbouy doing these days?)

Sunk?

I see they diversed to create Illoom Balloons.
So Seabung just needs to find other markets. Trouble is it could just be too easy to copy.

 

[old_salt]

I see they diversed to create Illoom Balloons.
So Seabung just needs to find other markets. Trouble is it could just be too easy to copy.

Yes A length of screwed rod, 2 nuts to fit, 2 washers one big and one small, both able to pass though the through-hull,
2 bits of rubber insertion or gasket one large to make a seal and the other smaller to make a backing on the outer side with the larger washer, push it though and pull back to seal and a good tug to pull it back out.
and if it is a sea going emergency a larger washer on the inside and a nut to fix the whole thing in the through-hull.

Bobs your uncle and fannies your aunt.

 

[Giblets]

Interesting article in the business press over the weekend on the workings of Dragons Den offers. It appears that a few do not proceed after the offer following the due diligence phase which exposes discrepancies. "Some people panic in the den and say something that is not true."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/businessclub/money/11425328/Half-of-Dragons-Den-investments-fall-through-after-the-show.html

 

[chrisgee]

If I got this right - you have to close the seacock, then remove the hose. Then you open the seacock, and shove one of these devices down it whilst the sea is trying to get in your boat. If it catches on anything, then you have to hope you can get it out again, and close the seacock. I can just about see it as an emergency alternative for a wooden bung, but there is no way I would try to change a seacock using one of these things.

I just looked at a video of it on a Force 4 site and it appears to work exactly how it was described. I would have thought that most yotties would have appreciated the advantages much more than the Den muppets especially dopey Duncan. I don`t get the regulation bit though.

 

[Alpha22]

Yes A length of screwed rod, 2 nuts to fit, 2 washers one big and one small, both able to pass though the through-hull,
2 bits of rubber insertion or gasket one large to make a seal and the other smaller to make a backing on the outer side with the larger washer, push it though and pull back to seal and a good tug to pull it back out.
and if it is a sea going emergency a larger washer on the inside and a nut to fix the whole thing in the through-hull.

Bobs your uncle and fannies your aunt.

Piece of dowel, a bit of old inner tube and a tack!!!

I changed 2 sea cocks at the weekend. I had to hold them in a workshop vice and split the seal with a pair of 12" Stillsons. There is no way I would undertake that with the sea cock in the boat let alone afloat!!

 

[Slycat]

Absolutely. How do they propose to get the MCA to make it mandatory? Do they know someone or are they planning on using brown envelopes!?
How long has DSC been around, and it's not mandatory yet.

Mandatory for new boats to the code I believe!

 

[old_salt]

Piece of dowel, a bit of old inner tube and a tack!!!
Yep that ones a piece of cake and take about 5 mins to make.
and if you are sure all will come apart without any trouble "ha ha" and brave or anything resembling stupid enough to do it on the water and can be quick to screw on a new one not really needed at all.:encouragement:
There is only one safe place to remove and service ship side valves and fittings and that is in dry dock.

 

[lpdsn]

I just looked at a video of it on a Force 4 site and it appears to work exactly how it was described. I would have thought that most yotties would have appreciated the advantages much more than the Den muppets especially dopey Duncan. I don`t get the regulation bit though.

The last seacock I changed required me to cut through the skin fitting to remove the seacock. Then I had to cut down the length of the skin fitting till I'd cut through the retaining nut.

I couldn't even get the hacksaw in there so I had to use half a hacksaw blade held between my fingers - a useful skill if I ever end up in Alcatraz.

I'm not sure how this sea bung would help. I don't think I'd've been happy to do it in the water.

 

[johnphilip]

If they ever did persuade legislators to make them a safety necessity, I am sure they would not be allowed to be a sole source of supply meaning end of £1 shop placcy selling for £50.

 

[haydude]

Absolute rip off and if they seriously think they can rely on legislation to make that bit of tat into a compulsory "safety device" they must be bonkers. I'l stick with my wooden bungs ta very much.

The markup made me mad.
The legislation part made me laugh!

 

[alfaman155]

I'm surprised they didn't show the Force 4 video to 'prove' that it can work rather than just saying it had been tested in a lab set-up.

 

[viago]

If I got this right - you have to close the seacock, then remove the hose. Then you open the seacock, and shove one of these devices down it whilst the sea is trying to get in your boat. If it catches on anything, then you have to hope you can get it out again, and close the seacock. I can just about see it as an emergency alternative for a wooden bung, but there is no way I would try to change a seacock using one of these things.

i completely agree, it would be madness. you don't have to lift out either, lean against a tidal quay and wait a few hours.
the thing is with testing tanks is that they don't contain plant life, barnacles and other debris wanting to make your boat their home and their skin fitting wont have been painted with growmore to encourage them.

so hose off, seacock u.s. and the bung cant seal, lovely jubly.

if you need to shut a stuck valve in an emergency then why not just cut the hose, attach another length of hose to it which reaches above the water line?
another one for my gaffer tape special repair manual.

 

[colhel]

I'd be worried about barnacle, weed or even a splodge of antifoul around the inlet not allowing it to seal.

 

[viago]

I'd be worried about barnacle, weed or even a splodge of antifoul around the inlet not allowing it to seal.

that's two of us who cant see any place for this on a boat then.

i guess the rest are "have a go" heros.

well, apart from the fact no-one here seems the remotest bit interested in the product.

good luck ladies.

 

[Sgeir]

From what I've read of the product it really seems a bit pointless As for the two people punting it, I've never heard of them before but, from their comments about seeking legislative compulsion, they sound a right pair of chancers. And arrogant with it.

 

[dom]

From what I've read of the product it really seems a bit pointless As for the two people punting it, I've never heard of them before but, from their comments about seeking legislative compulsion, they sound a right pair of chancers. And arrogant with it.

I was thinking of buying one and have no problem paying up for useful inventions with a narrow target audience. That said the proprietors business pitch is intensely selfish and put me right off the brand - would no longer touch one in a month of Sundays.