Swinging mooring - bailing out

[JohnM]

I have just moved my 4.5m rib onto a swinging mooring in April. Currently I am having to bail out 20cm of water each time I go out ! I am reluctant to fit an automatic bailer because I am concerned the battery will work overtime and go flat. I know we have had excessive rain this month

I have found a Drainman wind/wash auto bilge pump - but this seems to be designed for fix mooring boats. The obvious choice of a cover doesn't seem practical because of fixing points on the rib/wind. I leave the transom bung in when moored.

- Any advice on limiting the amount of bailing welcome !

[geir]

Originally Posted by JohnM

I have just moved my 4.5m rib onto a swinging mooring in April. Currently I am having to bail out 20cm of water each time I go out ! I am reluctant to fit an automatic bailer because I am concerned the battery will work overtime and go flat. I know we have had excessive rain this month

I have found a Drainman wind/wash auto bilge pump - but this seems to be designed for fix mooring boats. The obvious choice of a cover doesn't seem practical because of fixing points on the rib/wind. I leave the transom bung in when moored.

- Any advice on limiting the amount of bailing welcome !

Something like this solar powered thing Solar Bilge Pump by SeaJoule, perhaps?

[Erin]

I suppose it depends how big your battery is, but I've left my boat on its mooring for months at a time and never had a problem with the bilge pump running the battery flat. You may be worrying unnecessarily.

[jambo]

I keep my boat on a swing mooring on the west of Scotland granted I have two 120 ah's on a reg but only one to the pump. This is backed up with a solar panel. Only in exceptional circumstances and over a period of 4 weeks really bad weather have I ever had problems with flat battery.
Hope this helps.

[JohnM]

Thanks guys. I think you have put my mind at rest and I should try an automatic pump to the bailer - I like the idea of Solar back up if I need it.

John

[Siochair]

What about using a wave powered bilge pump like this one? : Mailspeed Marine Drainman Wave Operated Bilge Pump, Bilge, Saltwater & Shower Pumps | Mailspeed Marine
I've not used one personally but it looks like it might help minimise your battery usage.

[jambo]

Originally Posted by Siochair

What about using a wave powered bilge pump like this one? : Mailspeed Marine Drainman Wave Operated Bilge Pump, Bilge, Saltwater & Shower Pumps | Mailspeed Marine
I've not used one personally but it looks like it might help minimise your battery usage.

I tried one years ago you need quite a big raise and fall which you don't achieve in a rib

Sent from my iPhone using Rib.net

[Brian]

How about using an overall cover?

[HUMBER P4VWL]

Originally Posted by Brian

How about using an overall cover?

Unless v sheltered, a cover is a nightmare to put on in winds when in a dinghy. Also v expensive when they come off and tear.

Re your battery, just make sure you give your bilge pump a good clean once in a while. Most likely issue will be when the float mechanism gets dirty/old and sticks on! We've only had this twice in about 12 yrs though. Worth mentioning.

[JohnM]

Yes, I think trying to get an effective cover will be too much phaffing about in a tender out on the water. The bilge pump will go in this weekend.

Thanks for the advice.

[Daibheid]

As an alternative approach you might consider fitting a baling trunk. Some ribs float with the deck at or above the external waterline and so sit happily with the trunk down draining any rain water out. Other boats (Narwhal and I think Zodiac) use one way valves in the transom. Options like this mean the water will never get too deep inside the rib and minimizes possible malfunctions to something in the boat floating back and blocking the baler.

[Tino]

I had the same problem with my little Humber 5m. I had it on a swing mooring and in some bad weather. Overnight the waves breaking over the bow actually sank the boat to the level where the water flowed out over the transom. I would have been better off if i had left the elephants trunk down.

[HUMBER P4VWL]

Originally Posted by Tino

I had the same problem with my little Humber 5m. I had it on a swing mooring and in some bad weather. Overnight the waves breaking over the bow actually sank the boat to the level where the water flowed out over the transom. I would have been better off if i had left the elephants trunk down.

We had that on the searider, though it usually occurs when the wind is against tide. Your boat hangs off the mooring putting stern to waves, they then slop over and overwhelm the bilge pump, if you have one.