Missing the flush valve on Avon RIB

PhilSch · 31 March 2020, 19:25

I just bought a 2003 Avon/West Marine 340 RIB and the flush valve is missing. I called West Marine and they were not able to locate one. Does anyone know where to source one or possibly provide a part number?

I have attached a picture of the valve receptacle on the lower part of the transom.

Thanks!

Phil Schmidt

Pikey Dave · 31 March 2020, 19:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhilSch

I just bought a 2003 Avon/West Marine 340 RIB and the flush valve is missing. I called West Marine and they were not able to locate one. Does anyone know where to source one or possibly provide a part number?

I have attached a picture of the valve receptacle on the lower part of the transom.

Thanks!

Phil Schmidt

Looks like a bog standard drain plug to me. If you can’t find a plug, just remove the whole thing & replace it complete. Any chandlers will have them in stock.

PhilSch · 31 March 2020, 19:41

I'm not referring to the drain seen at the top of the picture. The bottom receptacle takes a screw-in, one way valve that allows water to flush out but not come back in. That valve is what I am missing.

Which are you talking about?

Phil

charliee · 31 March 2020, 20:17

I’m with PD, that is a bog standard screw in drain, it does nothing special. A cork works fine in case of emergency, I’m sure it’s nothing more elaborate

jeffstevens763@g · 31 March 2020, 20:29

You probably have to buy the whole drain no was wrong well you can this side

https://www.marinesuperstore.com/dec...CABEgLSQPD_BwE

Pikey Dave · 31 March 2020, 20:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhilSch

Which are you talking about?

Phil

The bottom one. It’s a drain bung.

Ferryman · 31 March 2020, 20:33

What they said, it’s just a drain for any water that gets into the hull.
I probably wouldn’t use a cork as when it’s full it makes the boat bloody heavy - just fit a new one.

PhilSch · 01 April 2020, 01:44

This is not making sense to me. My three Zodiacs were self bailing. They had a scupper valve at the bottom of the transom, not a PLUG. A scupper valve is one way that lets water out (upon forward motion) but not in. You guys are saying AVON does not have that self bailing feature? That would be pretty lame. I have had big waves crash upon my Zodiac, nearly filling the boat with water and it flushes out quickly under forward motion.

brveagle · 01 April 2020, 02:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhilSch

This is not making sense to me. My three Zodiacs were self bailing. They had a scupper valve at the bottom of the transom, not a PLUG. A scupper valve is one way that lets water out (upon forward motion) but not in. You guys are saying AVON does not have that self bailing feature? That would be pretty lame. I have had big waves crash upon my Zodiac, nearly filling the boat with water and it flushes out quickly under forward motion.

That is correct. It's just a drain plug. Nothing fancy.

Callum B · 01 April 2020, 07:26

Putting " rib drain" into ebay gets you this....:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/202122734483

jeffstevens763@g · 01 April 2020, 09:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhilSch

This is not making sense to me. My three Zodiacs were self bailing. They had a scupper valve at the bottom of the transom, not a PLUG. A scupper valve is one way that lets water out (upon forward motion) but not in. You guys are saying AVON does not have that self bailing feature? That would be pretty lame. I have had big waves crash upon my Zodiac, nearly filling the boat with water and it flushes out quickly under forward motion.

the top hole is the deck drain of a sort with an expanding bung that you put back in from inside the boat when its empty. the keel drain is for any water that might get in to the keel from the deck and condensation, also some anchor lockers drain into the keel this bung stays sealed whilst at sea and opened to drain whilst ashore on the trailer. some boats have a wet well so there's two keel drains meaning you can get rid of the water with a bilge pump, drain sock, gate drain or scupper valve which leaves a small amount of water left in the well then the outer drain is opened on the trailer so it dry's to prevent algae growth and get rid of debris that come off the deck

Tim M · 01 April 2020, 12:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhilSch

This is not making sense to me. My three Zodiacs were self bailing. They had a scupper valve at the bottom of the transom, not a PLUG. A scupper valve is one way that lets water out (upon forward motion) but not in. You guys are saying AVON does not have that self bailing feature? That would be pretty lame. I have had big waves crash upon my Zodiac, nearly filling the boat with water and it flushes out quickly under forward motion.

The compartment where the bottom hole in your photo is sealed so no water should be getting in there.

The top one appears to be for draining the deck whilst underway. Lots of different types; the "elephant trunk" is very popular. Some boats have a little rubber flap valve with a plug (remove the plug underway and the water drains out). These ball drain valves are also quite popular. However it is most certainly the larger diameter hole at the top of your photo which is the one for clearing water from the deck underway.

https://www.amazon.com/T-H-Marine-Fl...8&sr=8-2-spell

Ribshop here in the UK have just about every option with delivery available to the US:

http://www.rib-shop.com/drain-bungs-drain-socks/

Northern Pike · 01 April 2020, 14:32

The bottom one is called a garboard drain. It need only be opened occasionally, such as in the off-season when the boat is dry for long periods.
It will take a brass plug with a tapered pipe thread.
Should be easily found at any place that deals with pipe hardware.

Like the OP, I had two Zodiacs with the one way valves. They are an excellent set up.
Water goes out as fast as it comes in, with no need for the operator to do anything.

My new boat has the same set up as in the OP's pic.
I would like to find a one way Valve like Zodiac's, to install on the nylon threaded hole that drains the deck, as shown in the pic. That is designed to take a standard expanding plug on the smooth inside, but is threaded on the outside.
The one way valve would be a better solution, IMO.

cgoing · 01 April 2020, 18:27

Here is a picture of the plug in place. It is a threaded plug to occasionally drain for "condensation" as put by the factory. Realistically there should not be water coming out when drained.

PhilSch · 01 April 2020, 21:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by cgoing

Here is a picture of the plug in place. It is a threaded plug to occasionally drain for "condensation" as put by the factory. Realistically there should not be water coming out when drained.

Do you know if that plug in the picture is proprietary or is it the same as the common Barton drain plug?

Thanks.

Navajoturquoise · 01 April 2020, 22:50

It certainly appears to be a marine garboard drain with a missing plug. I would replace it with a complete set preferably made of brass. I for one would never install a one-way valve at that location. I find that they are not reliable and easily stay partly open when clogged with marine growth or debris. That spells trouble if your RIB is in the water for some time. http://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-m...06_181_003_505

Northern Pike · 01 April 2020, 23:30

Installing a valve in the garboard drain would be a very bad idea.
As I said, the garboard drain only needs to be opened once a year, when the boat is in storage for the off-season.
My garboard drain is brass, and that's what the OP should be looking for.
Above it, I have another opening with a nylon male thread. I would like to find a one way valve that would fit there.

Locozodiac · 11 April 2020, 21:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northern Pike

My garboard drain is brass, and that's what the OP should be looking for.
Above it, I have another opening with a nylon male thread. I would like to find a one way valve that would fit there.

No need to replace the lower brass plug with anything else, works spot on, just wrap some rounds of teflon tape to the male plug to assure no water intrusion in the lower hull.

Have tested all these water drain valves, the best one for me is the forth : New Drain Plug, No disphragm to deal with that usually pops-off when huge water amounts exits out valve. Check if a marine store that sells inflatable boats sells them, are cheap.

Happy Boating

Northern Pike · 11 April 2020, 23:24

I have the same setup as Locozodiac's picture 4.
As can be seen in post 17, the nylon through-hull fitting, extends outside the hull, and is threaded on the outside.
I would think a valve screwed onto the outside would be an automatic way to drain water from the deck.
I've had valves like that on Zodiacs and they've been trouble free for decades.
Like this:

Locozodiac · 11 April 2020, 23:48

[/QUOTE]
As can be seen in post 17, the nylon through-hull fitting, extends outside the hull, and is threaded on the outside.
[/QUOTE]

Try to find a plunger with lever, the ones used to seal bottles's necks. Will need to be same diam as the internal valve diam to seal well. The plunger seen on pic 4 can be set at any side of the transom with an attached string tied somewhere.

Happy Boating