Searider Flooding Hull

[neilhope]

Hello,
I've just got a 4 metre Avon Searider, with a 55hp Evinrude, which has the flooding hull sealed.
My problem is that water is still filling the hull but can't get out, resulting in the transom slipping lower and lower in the water.
I intend using it for diving so getting in the boat after a dive may cause more complications by further adding to the weight of water.
The front holes are glassed over and the rear hole is glassed and replaced with a small bung.
What is my best course of action:
Try to reopen the flooding hull (and how easy would this be)?
Or, fit some type of bilge pump to empty the hull?
Any feedback would be appreciated.
Cheers,
Neil

[CJL]

Just find the old holes and re-drill??

If you can't find them, drill new, same diameter but make sure you seal the layers of GRP with gell coat or you'll get a sogy hull!

C

[neilhope]

Any idea where I'd get the info regarding hole sizes etc?

[Neil Harvey]

Hi,

The holes on mine are covered up as well. I think they are quite large.
The stainless covers on the front are at least 2"x2", and the back about 6"x5".
I don't know the size of the holes underneath, but having seen others, the rear is big enough to fit your fist through.
Mine's a 5.4 though.

I'd try and take off the covers and reseal.

Re-drilling might not be the best idea, since the hole at the rear is strategically placed at the bottom of the hull.

I assume you do mean water is getting in underneath the deck, into the flooding chamber itself?

You don't mean the deck area itself is flooding - this could be leaky elephant trunks.

Neil

[neilhope]

Yes, it's the flooding chamber that is filling up, but there are no covers, just glass fibre filling the holes so there's no reference as to where the holes should be.
I'm not particularly keen on drilling so maybe I should look at a pump.

[Neil Harvey]

OK,

Looking at some pics, the front ones are right at the front of the hull, in the middle between the 2nd and third strakes down the hull. i'll try and send you a mail with photo. I don't know how big the holes are though!

The rear is at the bottom of the vee of the hull, again exact size i don't know.

You could ask Narcosis to take some pics of his, as they are not covered on his 5.4.

Neil

[MikeCC]

The holes at the front are 1" diameter on my 5.4. (Well, they have 1" bungs in).

At the back, around 100mm.

If you want to put a pump in, you'll need to cut out the transom exit hole again - there's not really any other way of getting one in there. Re-seal the cut surfaces with gelcoat.

You can use one of the bung holes in the deck to take a tube from the pump over the transom. Use the other bung hole for the wires (or drill a new hole as small as required). It doesn't matter if you can't put the bung in because you've got the pump down there.

Then use a 4" inspection hatch to cover the transom hole. Make sure you get one with an o-ring. Screw and seal the outer ring with Sikaflex 292. Don't seal in the inspection plate itelf though. You might have to try a few to get the right size and fit - there may be an inner flange that sits proud of the outer ring and you'll want the inner one to fit inside the hole. If you can get a pump small enough to fit through the hatch even better.

[Nos4r2]

Is this any help? its my sr4 before the refit.




The front holes are the small dark bits under the top chine near the bow.

[The Garfish]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

its my sr4 before the refit.

i reemembir dat bote

wan ov mi graytist suksessis wiv mi boe an arrer.

too in de toobs an wan inn de ribnobburs iye

i fink iz naim waz haruld orr sumfink butt itt waz a lonng tyme agow


gArf

[Mollers]

Or is the one that was found shoved behind a rock with a couple of deridgable canoes in Navarone?

[neilhope]

Thanks for all the ideas, everybody.

Is it not possible to feed a tube down the bung hole in the floor, next to the transom, which connects with the flooding hull and use a pump to suck out the water that way?

[MikeCC]

Originally Posted by neilhope

Thanks for all the ideas, everybody.

Is it not possible to feed a tube down the bung hole in the floor, next to the transom, which connects with the flooding hull and use a pump to suck out the water that way?

Bilge pumps are generally designed to 'push' water, not 'pull' it. They need water in the mechanism to generate flow which they can't do on fresh air.

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by neilhope

feed a tube down the bung hole in the floor, next to the transom, which connects with the flooding hull

You've got a bung in your FLOOR? I've not seen that on an SR4 before. What year is it? (last 2 digits of your hull number-stamped on top of transom)

[gaviotapete]

the front holes are not too big. less than 1 inch, probably about 3/4 inch
and the back one is maybe 2.5 inches. you cannot get your fist in the transom hole.

[neilhope]

Don't know the year as the id plate is missing - I'll post a photo if you're interested

[MikeCC]

Sorry if I've caused any confusion. Mine's a 5.4 and has 2 bung holes in the deck that go straight through to the flooding hull. From what gaviotapete says, the drain hole in the transom is a lot smaller as well.

[bedajim]

Hi

Mine is a 4.2 and has 1 cork size bung in the floor at the stern that drains into the flooding hull

I'll take a picture when/ if I get it back and some pictures of the flooding hull holes and dims to

If your going to dive from the rib don't you want the hull to flood so that it is lower in the water and more stable for getting in and out of ?

[CJL]

If you want to find the hole you could;

take the boat off the trailer,

sit boat on some soft grass

connect hose pipe to tap

connect other end of hose pipe to the boat

turn on tap

wait

see where the water comes out and

bobs your uncle, theres your hole!

Tried and tested method for sailing dinghies!

Chris

[Steve Waters]

Neil, If you are still stuck give me an email at stevewaters@v21mail.co.uk and I'll forward pictures and measurements I have a 4+ searider and it still has all its holes!!?
Steve