Bottom line: the Hunter store is not viable for Canadians. After exchange, duty and shipping, I am looking at $60 for a $9 gasket. Does anyone have any ideas on what I could use as a gasket for the Ballast tank? I was thinking about the soft rubber mat material you line your tool box's with from Home Depot.
Water Ballast Gasket Improv
- Thread starter Whiskey
- Start date
Yep, and you'll pay UPS $30 + GST for brokerage for them to collect 60 cents in GST on the item. I try to get things shipped by USPS whenever possible to save some of that. My boat came missing the ram's head cleat for reefing at the mast. It was a $7 part from Florida but there was a minimum $20 order, plus all of the extra costs just mentioned.
But I'm curious what people think of the necessity of the gasket. I don't think I have any rubber left at all, but I figure maybe there's no harm in that. I'm in a fresh water lake if that makes a difference.
But I'm curious what people think of the necessity of the gasket. I don't think I have any rubber left at all, but I figure maybe there's no harm in that. I'm in a fresh water lake if that makes a difference.
@Whiskey
This has come up a few times..... I made my own (see below) and I have also seen several other good suggestions on this forum.
1) If you have an old wet suit, the neoprene makes a good gasket...
2) If you have an old mouse pad, that can also be fashioned into a good gasket..
3) Home made... make a dam around the ballast plate and fill it in with liquid goop, let the goop dry... (that is what I did... see pics).
This has come up a few times..... I made my own (see below) and I have also seen several other good suggestions on this forum.
1) If you have an old wet suit, the neoprene makes a good gasket...
2) If you have an old mouse pad, that can also be fashioned into a good gasket..
3) Home made... make a dam around the ballast plate and fill it in with liquid goop, let the goop dry... (that is what I did... see pics).
@Rick Macdonald
I could be wrong but I think the gasket is vital. To my way of thinking, if you are heeling on a long tack with a leaky ballast tank, then you will lose all of the water that is on the windward side of the boat, ....and things can go wrong quickly without ballast.
I could be wrong but I think the gasket is vital. To my way of thinking, if you are heeling on a long tack with a leaky ballast tank, then you will lose all of the water that is on the windward side of the boat, ....and things can go wrong quickly without ballast.
Rgranger is correct about that gasket not in place on the circular flange plate, water in the ballast tank can and will come out of the hull paticuraly on the side that the plate is on. Sorry folks but I cannot remember which side as it has been so long ago on either port or stbd. side of the hull. At first the engineers though like wise that the gasket was not needed. I made a bet with one and watched water flow out while the boat sitting on the trailer after being pulled out at the Hunter test pond. Sorry Rick but that is why I was emphatic on a gasket. Neophrene is key. Try an automotive store but it has to be thick so be careful. Not sure if a large say tractor trailer tube would work. The thicker the better. Anyone else out there can help. Not sure if Home Depot or Lowes would have such say for roofing????
I used that spray on rubber seal stuff seen on Tv.Been good for 5 yrs.Just keep spraying till it wsa 1/4 in thick
I remember someone building their own gasket from wet suit material. You could likely also find something that would work from an automotive supply or industrial supply firm local to you. Home hardware offers 6" square gasket material. Can't remember off the top of my head what diameter the plate is.
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Thanks everyone for your feedback, I will try NAPA and Part Source. If all else fails, I will find some neoprene. I am super intrigued about the plumbing Goop idea. Ingenuity is the key to sailing!
I have also used goop to make gaskets for a pivot pin on an earlier swing keel boat that I used to own. See pics.
The goop actually dries to a rather hard rubber and adheres to the metal very strongly.
Whiskey. If your located in Kingston you might try these guys. Appears from there advertising they might have what you need.
http://www.levacsupply.com/packing-gaskets-and-raw-materials-c33.php
http://www.levacsupply.com/packing-gaskets-and-raw-materials-c33.php
