Old Avon redstart valves ???

PeterM · 16 September 2008, 14:44

Was out last night in the RIB and coming up the river very slowly I ran 'over' an old avon redstart/redcrest (not sure of the differance). It ended up just wrapped round the leg of my OB, and after swearing & cursing in the dark at what ever it was I had hit I realised what it was & dragged it into the boat. It was well covered in mud & slime, but once I had it home pumped it up & it seems the front section holds air OK , but the back is leaking via the valve.

Does anyone know if these are replaceable or repairable? They dont look liek any 'normal' valve I have seen for tubes as they stick up bu about an inch from the tube surface. There seem to be the valve covers/ caps missing, but there are also 2 small threaded type valves low down on the inside of the tubes. No idea what these are for as I've never seen anything like them on a tube before.

I think it must have been in the water for some time, but has no name or ID on it anywhere & if I hadn't have hit it in the dark it would bee off in the solent now !

There is some water inside the tubes, which I should try & get out , but again any ideas on how to do this ?

Nos4r2 · 16 September 2008, 14:47

http://www.ibsmarine.co.uk/buy-a-boa...earchText=Avon
Or is it the old black rubber type valves? In which case just fit a new one.

Drop the valve centre out and drain it. Sounds like a lucky escape!

PeterM · 16 September 2008, 15:09

Think it must be the old rubber type valves. I just cant see how you get them out? Looking down on them there seems to be a thread on the inside of the rubber cone & a rubber one way valve. I'll see if I can unscrew the metal plate the the valve is mounted on. Maybeits just full of sand & rubbish & just not sitting right.

It was lucky - I was doing all of 1 knot & the engine just stopped. But at 10pm , when it was getting cold, trying to drag a SIB half full of water over the side was not enjoyable! Just had a very nice BBQ on the beach aswell !

Nos4r2 · 16 September 2008, 15:14

I bet!

Just replace all the valves with the later A7 valves.

PeterM · 16 September 2008, 15:15

Found what is fitted here :

http://www.ibsmarine.co.uk/buy-a-boa...earchText=Avon

Doesn't look easy to replace without getting the glue out - if I do that I'd put a 'new' style valve in to match my AVON & Shearwater ( Henshaws) tubes !