Re: [bolger] A better 'ole stopper
The only thing keeping the lake out of my boat is one of those two
part brass things.
I screw the plug in very finger tight and unless water comes over the
side the bilge
stays dry. BTW the stopper screws in from the lake side on my boat.
Any way to find
out for sure if the water is getting by the threads? If so some
heavy grease/vasolene on the
threads might help.
hal
part brass things.
I screw the plug in very finger tight and unless water comes over the
side the bilge
stays dry. BTW the stopper screws in from the lake side on my boat.
Any way to find
out for sure if the water is getting by the threads? If so some
heavy grease/vasolene on the
threads might help.
hal
>There are stoppered holes in the bilge of my v-bottom catboat
>daysailer to let the accumulated rain out, since my polytarp covers
>are not waterproof. Unfortunately, the plugs don't seem to be
>watertight when installed for sailing. I first tried the brass 2-part
>bilge plugs that screw in with a wrench. A pain to install in the
>depths of the bilge and they leaked. Next tried were the rubber
>stoppers with the twist T-top. You turn the brass T and it tightens a
>washer at the bottom, expanding the plug to fill the hole. Foolproof,
>I thought. It wasn't, still leaking on their first sail last Sunday.
>The leaks aren't serious, but if you were out all day, you might have
>to do some bailing...
There are stoppered holes in the bilge of my v-bottom catboat
daysailer to let the accumulated rain out, since my polytarp covers
are not waterproof. Unfortunately, the plugs don't seem to be
watertight when installed for sailing. I first tried the brass 2-part
bilge plugs that screw in with a wrench. A pain to install in the
depths of the bilge and they leaked. Next tried were the rubber
stoppers with the twist T-top. You turn the brass T and it tightens a
washer at the bottom, expanding the plug to fill the hole. Foolproof,
I thought. It wasn't, still leaking on their first sail last Sunday.
The leaks aren't serious, but if you were out all day, you might have
to do some bailing...
Anyone have any suggestion? Thanks....
Gary Blankenship
Tallahassee, FL
P.S. That said, let me add that the catboat is a great daysailer.
Anyone used to the slap and pounding of a flat-bottom boat in a small
chop would enjoy the way this boat cuts though a chop. It handles
precisely, turns on a dime and keeps it's momentum when tacking. On
Sunday, in 10-12 mph winds, the GPS had me doing never less than 5.2
mph and over 6 a couple times. Pretty good for a 19.5 foot boat.
Since
I put a tabernacle on, it's easy to set up. About the only drawback
is
the trailer is less than optimal and it takes a moderately steep ramp
to launch. It would even be better if it had been build to use water
ballast instead of sand bags. I keep hoping to talk someone into
building the second one. Bolger originally designed it as a 15.5
footer for one of the SBJ cartoons (meant to be kept in the water
with the mast up for impromptu daysailing form a dock), and then
later
said the stations could be moved 25 percent farther apart on the same
beam for a bigger boat, which is what I did. Someone looking to move
up from a Windsprint or Zephyr could do worse. Lofting is not
required, but a building jig is, so it's also a bit more of a
building
challenge. Sailis 136 square foot gaff. Sorry, I don't have any
pictures of it under sail, only on the trailer. Hope to rectify that
soon....
daysailer to let the accumulated rain out, since my polytarp covers
are not waterproof. Unfortunately, the plugs don't seem to be
watertight when installed for sailing. I first tried the brass 2-part
bilge plugs that screw in with a wrench. A pain to install in the
depths of the bilge and they leaked. Next tried were the rubber
stoppers with the twist T-top. You turn the brass T and it tightens a
washer at the bottom, expanding the plug to fill the hole. Foolproof,
I thought. It wasn't, still leaking on their first sail last Sunday.
The leaks aren't serious, but if you were out all day, you might have
to do some bailing...
Anyone have any suggestion? Thanks....
Gary Blankenship
Tallahassee, FL
P.S. That said, let me add that the catboat is a great daysailer.
Anyone used to the slap and pounding of a flat-bottom boat in a small
chop would enjoy the way this boat cuts though a chop. It handles
precisely, turns on a dime and keeps it's momentum when tacking. On
Sunday, in 10-12 mph winds, the GPS had me doing never less than 5.2
mph and over 6 a couple times. Pretty good for a 19.5 foot boat.
Since
I put a tabernacle on, it's easy to set up. About the only drawback
is
the trailer is less than optimal and it takes a moderately steep ramp
to launch. It would even be better if it had been build to use water
ballast instead of sand bags. I keep hoping to talk someone into
building the second one. Bolger originally designed it as a 15.5
footer for one of the SBJ cartoons (meant to be kept in the water
with the mast up for impromptu daysailing form a dock), and then
later
said the stations could be moved 25 percent farther apart on the same
beam for a bigger boat, which is what I did. Someone looking to move
up from a Windsprint or Zephyr could do worse. Lofting is not
required, but a building jig is, so it's also a bit more of a
building
challenge. Sailis 136 square foot gaff. Sorry, I don't have any
pictures of it under sail, only on the trailer. Hope to rectify that
soon....