self-bailing drain for dinghy

[Duncan Maio]

Our 8' Fiberglass tender has a flotation chamber across the transom, which makes installing a drain plug there impossible.

I have seen drains designed to be installed in the hull, that look like a scoop-strainer through-hull from the outside and hav a removeable plug on the inside. Can't find them in any of the usual places.

Anybody know where to get one?

Duncan Maio
s/v Remedy
CD27 #37
Bristol, RI



mail@mysticmarine.net

[John R.]

Our 8' Fiberglass tender has a flotation chamber across the transom, which makes installing a drain plug there impossible.

I have seen drains designed to be installed in the hull, that look like a scoop-strainer through-hull from the outside and hav a removeable plug on the inside. Can't find them in any of the usual places.

The garboard drains are not self draining but the Elvstrom drain is. The garboard drains are cast bronze and the Elvstroms are stainless.

Anybody know where to get one?

Duncan,

I'm not sure which drain you are talking about by your description. However, you could use a garboard drain which comes in different sizes and designs. You could also use a Elvstrom bailer, (not sure of the spelling on that), maybe that is the drain you are trying to describe. they are used a lot in small daysailers and performance dinghys.

I use two garboard drains in my hard shell dink. One in the forward compartment and one in the aft compartment. The sailing dink has a full seat with a daggerboard slot across midships so I wind up with two compartments that need draining separately because there are no limber holes between the two compartments. That dink has a glassed seat at the transom (like a flotation chamber)so it can't use a transom drain either.

I installed the basic garboard drains that have square plug heads without the pin. I drilled holes through the square plug head so I could insert a removable piece of stainless rod to use for leverage when tightening the plug. The plugs that have a stainles pin permanently installed in them can be a PIA in a dinghy because you can catch things on the pin.

Duncan Maio
s/v Remedy
CD27 #37
Bristol, RI

[John R.]

P.S.

The Elvstrom drains are self bailing and the garboard drains are not. The Elvstroms are sheet stainless and the garboards are cast bronze.

Our 8' Fiberglass tender has a flotation chamber across the transom, which makes installing a drain plug there impossible.

I have seen drains designed to be installed in the hull, that look like a scoop-strainer through-hull from the outside and hav a removeable plug on the inside. Can't find them in any of the usual places.

The garboard drains are not self draining but the Elvstrom drain is. The garboard drains are cast bronze and the Elvstroms are stainless.

Anybody know where to get one?

Duncan,

I'm not sure which drain you are talking about by your description. However, you could use a garboard drain which comes in different sizes and designs. You could also use a Elvstrom bailer, (not sure of the spelling on that), maybe that is the drain you are trying to describe. they are used a lot in small daysailers and performance dinghys.

I use two garboard drains in my hard shell dink. One in the forward compartment and one in the aft compartment. The sailing dink has a full seat with a daggerboard slot across midships so I wind up with two compartments that need draining separately because there are no limber holes between the two compartments. That dink has a glassed seat at the transom (like a flotation chamber)so it can't use a transom drain either.

I installed the basic garboard drains that have square plug heads without the pin. I drilled holes through the square plug head so I could insert a removable piece of stainless rod to use for leverage when tightening the plug. The plugs that have a stainles pin permanently installed in them can be a PIA in a dinghy because you can catch things on the pin.

Duncan Maio
s/v Remedy
CD27 #37
Bristol, RI

[Ken Coit]

Duncan,

I would think that any sailing dinghy supply house would carry them, but if you need to deal with a mail order house, Layline will at least give you some perspective. They carry a bunch of them. Just seach on "bailer" at the link below.

BTW, our CD/14 has a drain in the bottom of the hull. It is just like the drains that are normally placed in the transom and sealed with an expandable "rubber" plug. Not exactly race quality, but I don't really notice the drag; the price is certainly right. It probably doesn't drain automatically, but that is OK because I can't row that fast anyway.

Keep on sailing,

Ken Coit
CD/14 #538
CD/36 #84 Parfait
Hailing Port: Raleigh, NC
Sailing from: Beaufort, NC

Our 8' Fiberglass tender has a flotation chamber across the transom, which makes installing a drain plug there impossible.

I have seen drains designed to be installed in the hull, that look like a scoop-strainer through-hull from the outside and hav a removeable plug on the inside. Can't find them in any of the usual places.

Anybody know where to get one?

Duncan Maio
s/v Remedy
CD27 #37
Bristol, RI

[img]http://www.layline.com/store/images/564130.JPG[/img]
parfaitNOSPAM@nc.rr.com

[M. R. Bober]

These devices have a reputation for "sinkin' da dink" whether deserved or not. While underway (forward) I don't think there would be a problem, but the potentional for debris to hold the drain open is real enough. When I ordered my Bauer 10' a few years ago Mr. Bauer recommended against having a self drainer installed. USCG banned them on cruisers years ago.
Mitchell Bober
RESPITE
CD330
Annapolis, MD

[Larry DeMers]

Previous to our CD30, we sailed a Buddy Melges designed/built C-Scow for 18 years. This was a woodie, and a fast boat that we sailed probably 5 out of 7 days per week during the non-hard water months.
This boat had a self-draining scupper..actually a set of them, that would self drain the boat when it was in motion. They also had a bail on them that operated the self bailer..closed it off completely or opened it up for use. I think I read something by John R that mentioned Elvstrom Bailers, and that is the name I seem to remember associated with them.
If my recollection is right (don't count on it...), I would have to say that they would probably be the best bet for a hard dinghy, as they could be closed except when wanted open. One thing..they did require forward motion to suck the water out. Once stopped, the boat would take on water. So they would only be operated at the right times of course. But I see no reason that they would not work on a rigid dinghy that used an outborad motor and got up and moved faster than say 5 mph.

CHeers,

Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30 Lake Superior

These devices have a reputation for "sinkin' da dink" whether deserved or not. While underway (forward) I don't think there would be a problem, but the potentional for debris to hold the drain open is real enough. When I ordered my Bauer 10' a few years ago Mr. Bauer recommended against having a self drainer installed. USCG banned them on cruisers years ago.
Mitchell Bober
RESPITE
CD330
Annapolis, MD

demers@sgi.com

[Duncan Maio]

Thanks to all. The Elvstrom looks like the ticket, although I really just need a way to keep her from filling with water when she's up on the dock (can't turn her over with the outboard on). I may just install a garboard drain if I can find a spot on the hull that will allow for some protection on the outside (when dragging her up the beach, etc.).

Duncan Maio
m/v Fix
Ocean Bird 8



mail@mysticmarine.net