Self Bailer O-Rings

Cul Air Thoin

New Member
I need some new o rings in my self bailer and figure I should be able to pick some up from any hardware or auto store - what size inside diameter and profile measurement are the o rings? I'd like to be able to buy some before pulling the thing to bits so I can refit it immediately, and not have to run around looking for them while my boat is in bits in front of the boatshed.

I'm sure that this has been covered on here a thousand times before but I'm having trouble tracking it down.
 
O rings from the hardware/auto store wont last 5 mins, although tempting on price, they are the wrong type of rubber. Recommend you replace them with one of the metal spring products now available. You'll probably never need to replace them again.
 
Never had an issue with the "hardware"purchased ones. Actually I used to purchase them for a completelty different reason in a bag of 1000, for about $20 from a speciallist bearing place. I'm not sure if the metal springs have been released in Australia.
 
Never had an issue with the "hardware"purchased ones. Actually I used to purchase them for a completelty different reason in a bag of 1000, for about $20 from a speciallist bearing place. I'm not sure if the metal springs have been released in Australia.


Are the metal springs now legal per Class rules?
 
Rule 13 was modified to allow them:- "The builder supplied o-rings may be substituted with non builder-supplied alternatives provided the basic function of the bailer is unchanged."
 
OK - cool - if some one can let me know where to get the metal clips/springs in Aus that would be great :)
otherwise does any one know the size of the orings so I can pick some up from transeals or statwide bearings?
 
In Australia:
the springs are $10, available here: http://www.nbsailsports.com.au/store/product-info.php?pid837.html

Problem I'm having is that the bailer gets broken when it catches on the old trailer, as I drag the boat off into the water. The flap pops out of the clips and then goes missing.
Purchased a bailer repair kit, but the flap pops out of the clips just under the pressure of the O-rings! It all looks intact and unbroken.
Thinking cutting the round pivot lumps off, drilling through the main bailer moulding, and then having a 3/16" bolt hold the flap in place instead of those useless plastic clips.
Anyone else had this problem, or better still, found a good solution?
 
It's a good idea to just close your bailer anyway when coming in off the water, regardless of the trailer/dolly. When you slow down to come in, you get a lot of water in your cockpit. Re-learned this lesson Saturday. Slowed way down on the way in to not run into the back of the J70s coming back in from their race, found my cockpit half filled with water.
 

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