Leave old bailer in?

cmcd

New Member
I just 'inherited' a 1970 sunfish. The boat has a plug in its old style bailer, but the bailer has no float ball. Given the general lack of enthusiasm I have seen on the board regarding the effectiveness of these auto bailers, I was planning on just leaving the plug in and not messing with it. Plenty of other projects on this boat! Is there a way to figure out (without putting the boat in the water...) whether the plug is functional? Do they often go bad?

Thanks!
 
"Is there a way to figure out (without putting the boat in the water...) whether the plug is functional?"
How about putting water in the cockpit and seeing if it leaks out?
 
From what little time I've spent in SF I would say that you'll have water in your cock pit no matter what is going on with the bailer so don't sweat it.
 
I can't understand why everyone thinks the bailer (old or new) doesn't work well. I've had both types and they work fine as long as you are moving at a speed that activates the "suction." Yes, it helps to be either flat or heeled on starboard tack. I actually hear the bailer sucking wind when the cockpit is dry!
I think you need the bailer open even if it doesn't work otherwise water will just build up in the cockpit from outside when splashing through waves or heeling over or just dripping it from your shoes or clothes. With the bailer open the water will only get to the same level as the water outside the cockpit.
Of course you can always leave it shut if you can prevent water from getting into the cockpit. (Good luck with that!)
Fred
 
Thanks for the feedback. If I want to do a fix, am I better off trying to just replace the ball and gasket (will available replacement ball fit with the old style bailer?), or should I get a whole new (plastic) mechanism? The existing metal bailer does not seem like it will be easily removed.
 
cmcd,

The bailers do work as Frad says. The ball is the same for both bailers. On the metal bailer it seats against the bottom of the screw in plug (if you still have it). Unscrew the plug a couple of turns to open the bailer. On the plastic it seats against the gasket. Just "pull the plug" on the plastic to open that style bailer.

If you need to remove the bailer, go to Wind Line Sails http://www.windline.net/index.html for instructions. I prefer a Dremel Tool with a fiberglass cut off wheel (less heat) over the grinder (more heat) to cut the nut on the inside. The plastic bailer is a direct replacement, instructions for installing are on Vanguards web sitr in the manual.
 
Thanks supercub. So if I can get the plug unscrewed, all I need to do is just drop a new ball in? Great! I'll get a good set of pliers and give it a twist.
 
cmcd,

Just be carefull twisting the bailer plug. Usually when stuck, they are stuck for good, especially if used in salt water. Haven't found a solvent (Liqiud Wrench, WD-40 etc that will loosen a brass to aluminum corrosion of the threads. If the whole thing wants to twist (bailer spinning in the hole), stop and think about it. It may be time to replace the bailer.
 
The only real problem I have found with the brass bailers is that if you sail it off of a beach, the sand gets into the screw plug, and it becomes impossible to take out without some kind of tool
 
I'm not sure the ball in the old bailers seat on the bottom of the screw plug as supercub said. My old bailer had a rubber washer inset inside the bailer that functioned to seal the water out when the ball pressed against the hole in the washer. I trimmed a garden hose washer to fit in the inset when the old washer didn't work too well.
Even without the ball seal the water wasn't much trouble except for continuously wet feet.

Fred
 

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