hey guys im very new to the world of ribs and am looking for some advice. i have a little flatcraft force 3 GT with a mariner 25 so not the biggest or powerfull rib! was told by a friend that when moving on the water the drain bung should be removed thus letting water drain out at speed then back in at slow speeds :s im yet to try it as it just seems mental being out with no bung in! should i have it out and stop being a wimp or follow my head and leave it in???
I've never been on a flatacraft - so if someone who knows them disputes this then ignore me! But your friend is confused!
There are some ribs which are designed for the hull cavity to flood when stopped and drain when on the plane. They have a big (3-4"+) hole at the back and two small (<1"?) holes at the front (to let air in as water drains and vice versa). The only one I can think of is the SeaRider range from Avon - there may be others who copied this idea. It gives stability at rest and puts the tubes closer to the water for divers coming in out etc. Even when this was designed in some people prefer to remove it to get on the plane quicker. When flooded this water all goes under the deck though (so you keep your feet dry(ish)).
There are also some other ribs (including my boat) which have a 1.5-2" Bung just above the deck - which when travelling at speed if you pull it out will drain the deck just like an elephants trunk on "larger" ribs. If I was on a long, choppy, wet trip I would take the bung out once underway and leave it out so it keeps draining - but before I slowed down I would put it back in (this is tricky single handed!).
hey guys im very new to the world of ribs and am looking for some advice. i have a little flatcraft force 3 GT with a mariner 25 so not the biggest or powerfull rib! was told by a friend that when moving on the water the drain bung should be removed thus letting water drain out at speed then back in at slow speeds :s im yet to try it as it just seems mental being out with no bung in! should i have it out and stop being a wimp or follow my head and leave it in???
What Polwart said.
Your mate is confused, to say the least. Without vent holes the water will take forever to drain out. It'd be a dangerously silly thing to do,as the boat is liable to take a nosedive when the water all rushes to the bow when you shut the throttle.
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Noo!
There was meant to be a little neoprene flap on the outside of this hole, to prevent the water coming back in when off the plane. If this is gone, then you can work it manually with the bung, but no, it is not designed to flood completely like a sea-rider. Your brain serves you well. Follow it!
I have had a flatacraft force 4 gt for 5 years now. When your on the water with the engine running it is fine to take the bung out. Water does come in slightly but as you go off the water from the hull goes to the back of the boat and out the hole. You then slow down then get up and put the bung back. I only do this when the hull has lots of water in best leave the bung in most of the time and on the outside of my flatacraft over the hole it has a plate over the back where the water from the hull comes out of the sides of the plate this stops the water gushing in. The guy i brought my boat off did launch it forgetting the bung but he said it did not sink. Hope this helps.
White Noise
