Help fitting elephant trunks

tipidave1 · 23 March 2010, 23:34

Hi,
I have a 5m searider with 75 Mariner 2 stroke. Whilst planing, the boat often ships a bit of water and I only have a manual pump. Would an elephant trunk solve this issue? If so, any advice on where to source and how to fit? just the one or two? at low speed do they need to be lifted or do they close sufficiently well?

You can tell form my questions that i am a bit of a novice in respect of these things... ready to tackle the job but wary of screwing it up! Any advice gratefully received.
Cheers
Dave

thornbackflound · 23 March 2010, 23:47

I hope someone can answer that question for you,as i would quite like to know how to use them.lol got a sib last wk and i have not got a clue

Downhilldai · 23 March 2010, 23:52

I assume you have a 'Deluxe' Searider with bucket seats, bonnet & windscreen, as it has no bailers fitted? The centre console Seariders have them as standard (2 usually on a 5.4)

The various toobers who are trade members on here: Ribshop, tidelbiz (Paul Tilley) & Henshaws (Christopher) should be able to sell you an elephant trunk kit. They also come up from time to time on ebay, or you could try an Avon dealer: BHG in Lymington stock a load of Avon parts

thornbackflound · 23 March 2010, 23:54

How do they work tho? if you don t mind me asking

chewy · 24 March 2010, 00:01

Mine let a bit of water in when at rest on an SR4 but I leave them down if I having a mess about.
Dead easy to fit, drill your hole, seal the inside of the hole with a couple of coats of resin then sikaflex the pipe in the holes.
I also sikaflexed the trunks onto the pipes then used the jubilee clips.

chewy · 24 March 2010, 00:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by thornbackflound

How do they work tho? if you don t mind me asking

Basically its like having a hole in the back of your boat that the water goes out of when you at speed.
To stop water from coming in you raise the trunk so the top of it is above the water.

Downhilldai · 24 March 2010, 00:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by thornbackflound

How do they work tho? if you don t mind me asking

You cut a big 'ole in the transom and seal the trunk to the outside of the transom. When deployed, with the boat underway, the trunk should stick out horizontally (bilges here we come!) and the vacuum effect of the boat travelling on the plane over the water sucks out any deck water. The trunk is held in position by a cord fixed from the end of the trunk to a cleat on the transom. When the boat has emptied, you pull on your cord which will result in your trunk ending up in a vertical position

. You can secure the trunk in this position by tying the cord to the same cleat. When the boat comes off the plane, the top of the trunk should then be above the water level, so the boat doesn't fill back up with nasty seawater.

thornbackflound · 24 March 2010, 00:14

Arh got you ,many thanks for the explanation, now i see how they work

Ribshop · 24 March 2010, 09:04

Hi Dave

We sell a drain sock kit,
http://rib-shop.com/prodtype.asp?PT_...ageHistory=cat

Looking at your occupation I am guessing you work at Nats, We down the road just before your turning on the left, Coal Park Lane. You can always pop in for some advice.

neilda · 24 March 2010, 10:28

I assume that the rubber of the trunk also collapses when at rest due to water pressure on the outside - that seals them against water coming in too....

chewy · 24 March 2010, 11:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilda

I assume that the rubber of the trunk also collapses when at rest due to water pressure on the outside - that seals them against water coming in too....

Sort of although after a few minutes the waves have put mine under water again and the boat slowly fills.

neilda · 24 March 2010, 17:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by chewy

Sort of although after a few minutes the waves have put mine under water again and the boat slowly fills.

That's interesting.

Do people raise (and tie) their tubes/trunks at anchor or when in harbour (for example)? Is this good practice?

To be honest, I've never given the tubes a moments thought. They're down when I head off from the dry stack and down when I come back - I never touch them.

chewy · 24 March 2010, 17:25

I lift mine when I leave it on the mooring.
If I know I'll get quite a bit of water on the deck then I'll just leave them down till I'm back in the harbour.

neilda · 24 March 2010, 19:08

Right. Something else to remember.

Thanks......

Nasher · 24 March 2010, 19:37

Because I'm so terrible at remembering to lift them back up I tend to leave them up unless I need to drop them to clear the deck.

Nasher.

Sonar · 24 March 2010, 21:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by tipidave1

Hi,
I have a 5m searider with 75 Mariner 2 stroke. Whilst planing, the boat often ships a bit of water and I only have a manual pump. Would an elephant trunk solve this issue? If so, any advice on where to source and how to fit? just the one or two? at low speed do they need to be lifted or do they close sufficiently well?

You can tell form my questions that i am a bit of a novice in respect of these things... ready to tackle the job but wary of screwing it up! Any advice gratefully received.
Cheers
Dave

http://www.rib-shop.com/prodtype.asp...ageHistory=cat

9D280 · 25 March 2010, 11:50

Another handy tip - forget cleats on the transom - lead the rope forward & put the cleat near your seat. Then you can open / close as required.

tipidave1 · 25 March 2010, 23:59

Yeap I work at Swanwick. I'll come in soon for a bit of advice. I was a bit concerned about weakening the transom by drilling. What soer of size does the hole need to be? Does it matter where you drill?
Thanks
Dave

chewy · 26 March 2010, 00:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by tipidave1

Yeap I work at Swanwick. I'll come in soon for a bit of advice. I was a bit concerned about weakening the transom by drilling. What soer of size does the hole need to be? Does it matter where you drill?
Thanks
Dave

I've got two trunks on mine and it hasn't affected the transom.
As for position inline with the deck and out of the way of the prop is best!

m chappelow · 26 March 2010, 00:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by chewy

I've got two trunks on mine and it hasn't affected the transom.
!

Nor mine ,,lol over kill i know on a 3.5 s.i.b.,,,though they do clear a boat full of water in less than a minute .
its not a bad idea when fitting the draw string to put a small eyelet in the trunk , opposite the edge your fixing it at and run it through that before fixing line off at the trunk ,,that way when you pull it tight in the closed posistion it then has the effect of closing the trunk flat so stopping any water/spray from funneling down and back in the boat .,,,As you can just see in the 2nd photo,.,,,i have seen a few trunks set up looking like a wizzards sleeve,, then they wonder why theres always water getting back in the boat .......looking at chewys earlier photo he has his set up ok ,,but i cant help wondering if its a handgranade resting under the nearside wheel .