TOPIC:

Can anyone help identify the self bailers fitted to A7525 Blue Jay? My helpful local supplier advises that the name will be on the body of the bailer but of course that is under half a ton of filler! She is a Porter composite and the bailers have 6 bolt mountings. These are evenly spaced in a rectangle and the width between bolt centres is 65mm. The distance between the end mounting centres is 120mm with the centre ones measuring 60mm to each end. Hope that makes sense. They are of the hoop design. Problem is they have started leaking and need a fix! Do they have to be totally de-mounted to fit new seals and can anyone tell me what make the bailers are? They are currently taped up to prevent a crew mutiny but I would like to find a fix and if possible one that does not mean stripping them out of the boat. Any comments and advice would be most welcome.

Albacore Andy

Blue Jay


GBR A7525

Hi Andy,



In my experience if you are going to the trouble of replacing the seals. It's better just to replace the bailers and use sone sikoflex during the installation. If you replace the bailers and they still leak, then your waisting you time. I not sure which bailers you have but try researching for elvstrom bailers and you will proably find the same type.



Good Luck



Phil

A6504"Nemesis"

Northern Rep.

Andy



They sound like Elvestrom/Anderson bailers. Take a look at these and see if they match:

www.sailboats.co.uk/search.aspx?keyword=bailer



If they are one of these then there are two types, one where the repair kit is very simple to fit with the bailer in the boat, the other type requires removal and replacement of rivets, which I have not attempted but are probably the ones Phil has encountered.



From memory the "New Large" bailers just need a seal, the "Super Max" need the service kit with the rivets.




I would recommend giving Sailboats a ring, they are always very helpful.

Thanks Phil and John for your helpful comments. They look like the 'New Large' design so I will explore the subject more with Sailboats and see where it leads. I would prefer the easy fix of changing seals if I can although I realise that it is a sink or swim situation! I have already been advised that the most common cause of leaking is a bent bailer but it is worth a try. Due to other considerations I have had to put off the planned spring re-fit so do not want to fit new bailers right now unless absolutely essential.













Albacore Andy

GBR A7525

Blue Jay

Andy. My last boat (Blackadder) had the "New Large" bailers and they used to leak. The leak was cured with the new seals - simple job with bailers still in the boat. After replacement the boat was dry as a bone.

The cause of the leak was just that the seals had become compressed so were no longer making a watertight seal.

JohnW2010-02-17 11:11:42

Thanks John the bailers are now definitely confirmed as 'New Large' type so seals are on order. Let's hope it effects a cure and I can carry less water ballast this year! Look forward to seeing you at Maidenhead again in April all being well.





Albacore Andy

GBR A7525

Blue Jay