I have a minifish which apparently uses the same auto bailer as the sunfish; it is leaking a cup or two of water per outing; I have it unthreaded and have been told to use silcone sealant; I am assuming around the gaskets? not the threads? any ideas; if this doesn't work out I can get a new part for about $60, thanks
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mebarnholdt
You could use a silicone caulk for this.
I wouldn't. Silicone can be messy to work with and if you have to take the self bailing scupper out again you will have to fight the silicone to do so.
I'd recommend Butyl tape for this application. Easy to use, easy to clean up. In fact I'd use Butyl tape for all through deck penetrations on a Sunfish/Minifish hull.
You can find it at most RV stores or Need Butyl Tape ?? Photo Gallery by Compass Marine at pbase.com
I wouldn't. Silicone can be messy to work with and if you have to take the self bailing scupper out again you will have to fight the silicone to do so.
I'd recommend Butyl tape for this application. Easy to use, easy to clean up. In fact I'd use Butyl tape for all through deck penetrations on a Sunfish/Minifish hull.
You can find it at most RV stores or Need Butyl Tape ?? Photo Gallery by Compass Marine at pbase.com
is this the one you have? only two cups of water in a sailfish after a day of sailing . you are just not trying hard enough.
Laser Performance Sunfish Bailer, sunfish,housing w/ball
http://coliesail.com/sunfish-bailer-balls.html
Laser Performance Sunfish Bailer, sunfish,housing w/ball
http://coliesail.com/sunfish-bailer-balls.html
I think he means inside the hull, not the cockpit
The problem with the Minifish, it is the lowest part of the hull (aside from the CB) so anytime you run it up on a beach or lay it on the lawn, it takes a lot of abuse
The problem with the Minifish, it is the lowest part of the hull (aside from the CB) so anytime you run it up on a beach or lay it on the lawn, it takes a lot of abuse
My dinghy takes in so much water I have to keep an eye on my waterline so that it does not sink. Mostly through cracks in the centerboard box and hull to deck joint (I often bury it in the water).
the OP asked about the auto bailer. mine had a auto bailer in the cockpit and a drain plug for the hull. if it is the hull drain then put some grease on the gasket to help it seal.
I was trying to say that it sounds like his autodrainer is leaking where it meets the hull and letting water inside the hull, not into the cockpit.
It will need to be removed and rebedded
It will need to be removed and rebedded
Do you have any photos of the existing sealant? If it was already silicone, it will be hard to get anything else to stick nicely, and probably not worth the effort to change. In that case I'd use Lifecaulk(a blend of silicone and polyurethane and rated for below waterline usage).
If it wasn't bedded with silicone before, I'd use 4000uv. I would use a thin layer of the sealant on both sides of the gasket(if it doesn't come with any guidelines saying no, since some gaskets don't work well with sealant), and also portion of the threaded portion that would be penetrating the hull.
If it wasn't bedded with silicone before, I'd use 4000uv. I would use a thin layer of the sealant on both sides of the gasket(if it doesn't come with any guidelines saying no, since some gaskets don't work well with sealant), and also portion of the threaded portion that would be penetrating the hull.
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