Self-Bailer on Trinka 8' Dinghy

[Skipper J]

Hi,

Do any of you have a self-bailer on an 8' Trinka dinghy? If so, how well does it work? I'd tow the Trinka behind a boat that only has a hull speed of 5.2 knots, so it seems like it is right at the point where it would function. I'd replace the bronze drain with an Elvstrom self bailer, as they were the original model the manufacturer used. Wondering if I'll kick myself for not doing it while I have the dinghy up on stands for painting.

Thanks,
Skipper J

 

[dLj]

I have a Trinka 8 but it doesn't have the self bailer. Honestly, I think it would only be useful if you were sailing it a lot as a sailing dinghy. Not being used as a tender. I've had self bailers on other small boats - you would open them when sailing and going fast enough. You'd have to remember to close them when slowing down too much. I've also had the kind with the floating ball in them that are supposed to close when the boat isn't going fast enough. I've had mixed success with those.

Just my 2 cents worth.

dj

 

[dlochner]

I have towed my not-a-Trink dinghy thousands of miles and water in the dinghy from towing is trivial, nothing a quick sponge or a couple of scoops. The biggest source or water is rain which I remove using a bilge pump and/or a bailing bucket.

 

[PaulK]

Imagine towing your dinghy with the bailers open to keep it nice and dry. As the day progresses the wind fades and you slow down so instead of draining the water out it is now coming in. Hassle instead of helpful. Installing a plug (with a closing handle, like a seacock?) might be a better idea. Then if the dinghy has a lot of water you can open the plug, lift up one end, drain the water out and close the plug before a lot comes back in. Locating the plug on the transom a touch above the waterline would help keep water from getting back in.

 

[shemandr]

I had self bailers on my MFG Bandit 15 centerboard sailboat. They did not work very well. I should say they worked pretty well removing water from the boat while sailing when going fast enough. The rest of the time they leaked. They were the cause of several sinkings. I rebuilt them to no avail. Eventually I fixed them with some fiberglass tape and epoxy.
They were this style but I'm not sure of the brand:

Mini Automatic Bailer | West Marine

Check out our Mini Automatic Bailer and more from West Marine!

www.westmarine.com

 

[Skipper J]

Hi All,
I appreciate the feedback. It sounds like I'd be better off leaving it as it is, with the drain as-is, and keep the side drain idea in mind. I had not thought of how useful that might be. Do you sailors ever put a canvas cover on your dinghies when you tow?

Skipper J