Searider water tank

[Rheinsailer]

Dear all,

I am new to this forum. Thanks for organising this fantastic resource. I have been reading a lot.

I just bought a used Avon Searider 5.4 with an Yamaha 80 hp 2-stroke engine. Works really well. I am from Denmark and I am having a lot of fun cruising the Danish waters with my family.

My question is about the water ballast tank. I bought the boat with the two holes near the bow closed and the rear one open. From remaining glue I can see the larger hole had been closed off at some point and the cover has been removed. Would you recommend to close the rear opening again or to open the small ones?

I am asking because when moored the boat is very low at the rear and I was wondering if the closed holes near the bow might cause an imbalance by keeping air in?

Thanks for any advice you can give me.

Rheinsailer

[jeffstevens763@g]

The holes at the bow are to allow air in so the water drains quicker to get on the plane so it will hold air when on the mooring personally I would block all holes totallyOMO

[Rheinsailer]

Thanks. So its either open the front holes or close the whole thing, right? I think I will close the rear opening as you suggest and then see if the engine will be a bit higher in the water when moored.

[Ferryman]

I always liked the stability of the flooding hulls on my Seariders and not much grows inside the hull when it's on a mooring.
Having said that, if the boat is moored where the sea can get rough, it can ship a lot of water so you may prefer the extra couple of inches of freeboard.

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by Ferryman

I always liked the stability of the flooding hulls on my Seariders and not much grows inside the hull when it's on a mooring.
Having said that, if the boat is moored where the sea can get rough, it can ship a lot of water so you may prefer the extra couple of inches of freeboard.

They don't ship as much water when going astern either with the hull closed off.

[jeffstevens763@g]

As ferryman says if you want stability for fishing, diving etc open it up personal choice

[Rheinsailer]

Thank you all for your advise. I think I will try how I like it closed. Would be nice to have the engine a bit more out of the water. I will put a plastic lid over the inlet. Any recommendations for the glue to use? I imagine a half closed inlet would be pretty bad...