[justcrusin]

Gday all,
Started out a wonderful day the weather had cleared up wind had dropped, the new depth sounder was installed an everything was go.
Launched around 7-30 to find 50m in the sounder was picking up a lousy signal. (later found to be due to full of foam that had expanded under the transducer and pushed the sikaflex out of the way).
Without the sounder it was proving difficult to find the deep hole that was meant to house them bream so i paddled for the wangi shore line (lucky really).
After ariving at wangi i drifted up the bank around 50m off and ficked sp's into the shallows things were happening mullet and bait fish jumping an i was getting excited. After about 10mins this netted me a PB 43cm flatty.

This is when things went wrong.

What i hadn't realised is that the new hatch from sounder installation had not sealed properly on the bottom edge and from the extra weight of the anchor and battery the rear well was holding a little water.

This had been slowly seeping in and after turning around to put the fish in the esky. Looked down in horror to see the ass end of the yak at the waterline.
Well the fish flew into the esky, up paddles and went like hell for the shore and made it. I think the foam i had put in the back worked and kept me up.
Once i dragged the yak onto shore i found it was half full of water.
After emptying the yak, i blocked the the rear scuppers with my gloves keeping the water out and with a few checking stops on the way back. I then did the mad dash back across the lake (new water speed record for a yak). Yak me and fish arrived back safely.

Morale of the story don't get excited when cutting holes in the yak and rush the job.

Cheers Dave

( the yak is aka as the SS Minnow now as it ended up being a 2 hour cruise)

 

[Dodge]

After ariving at wangi i drifted up the bank around 50m off and ficked sp's into the shallows things were happening mullet and bait fish jumping an i was getting excited. After about 10mins this netted me a PB 43cm flatty.

Morale of the story don't get excited when cutting holes in the yak and rush the job.

Dave sounds an exciting trip mate but at least you got a PB.

And it wasn't the hole that caused the problem in near sinking, as the hole was perfect to take the hatch OK...it was the lack of sealant :lol: bet the adrenalin level was high :wink:

 

[Peril]

Glad all is well and congrats on the PB flatty.

I think there is a warning here for all modders. Hatches should not be installed below the waterline. Even if you seal them well they can still ship water as the yak breathes. You will need to keep an eye on this or permanently plug the scuppers.

Was half expecting to run into today. Was out with a friend, his family and mine on a ski boat and started from Wangi Wangi. Believe me when I say that I would rather have been there on the yak, but the family had a good day

 

[troppo]

Good story, Justcruisin32 . Nothing like a bit of adventure on the seas to get the adrenaline rushing.

 

[aleg75]

Glat to hear you made it home in one piece! always good to get a PB, shame about the rest of the day though! hope you patch her up okay!

Ash

 

[justcrusin]

gday peril,

I think there is a warning here for all modders. Hatches should not be installed below the waterline. Even if you seal them well they can still ship water as the yak breathes. You will need to keep an eye on this or permanently plug the scuppers.

Normally the rear well is clear of the water but i think the added weight of the new anchor and the battery in the rear compartment brought it down. I don't like the idea of permenantly blocking the scuppers so i will try to find a one way valve or make on if i have to. The refitting of the hatch has already begun.

Needless to say gosford will be bought out of pool noodles tomorrow

To those that wanted to test pool noodles in the yak i have already lined up a mates pool and will flood the yak later this week. I'll take plenty of pics.

Dodge and troppo

bet the adrenalin level was high

the level has never been higher.

Cheers Dave

 

[Dodge]

gday peril,

I think there is a warning here for all modders. Hatches should not be installed below the waterline. Even if you seal them well they can still ship water as the yak breathes. You will need to keep an eye on this or permanently plug the scuppers.

I don't like the idea of permenantly blocking the scuppers so i will try to find a one way valve or make on if i have to. ke plenty of pics.

I would put a counter argument re hatches; I feel its quite safe as long as the correct opening is installed.

A deck plate with an O-ring is designed for wet areas and can be sealed quite safely, the Nairn Opening Deck Plate is one such plate at Whitworths [there are others]
http://www.whitworths.com.au/main_itemd ... 3=Deck+Pla

The quarter turn locking ones in many yaks [as swing and espri] are not as efficient where there is constant risk of immersion, the one in the swing I modified with a neoprene gasket as I open it 20 times an outing and wanted a secure seal.

I agree with Dave's point re breathing, when travelling and storage I have the bung loose, and don't tighten on the water until the boat has been floating and cooled for a short time

Dave/jc32, by permanently blocking the scuppers you do not have to add sealant to be successful, they can push out at any time [even on water if required]; my 6 scuppers in the swing cockpit are noodled and let no water in at all, and on cleaning if there is mud etc within I just pop the lowest pair in the footwells to rinse the boat out, the rear well is unplugged as I use a wet hessian bag for fish

If you cut a 50-70mm wafer of pool noodle like an octagon with a sharp knife about 5-10mm wider than the scupper it will push in super tight and stay there including while on the car travelling

 

[DGax65]

I'll second Dodge's observation. I used an 8 inch circular deck plate hatch on my OK Drifter for years. The yak shop did a poor job of sealing it and it leaked constantly. I removed it, then re-installed with a good bead of Sikaflex and it never leaked again. That hatch was under water 90% of the time, yet it didn't leak a drop. I would never consider installing a square T-lock hatch anywhere that would get much water. They tend to expand and warp when they are in the sun too long. Both of the square hatches that I have on my X-Factor leak a little. I'm just glad they are well above the waterline.
I always used scupper plugs on my OK Drifter and Prowler. Those are both wet rides even on calm days. The scupper plugs made for a dry paddle in calm water. In really choppy conditions I'd have to stop every so often and pump out the cockpit.

 

[justcrusin]

Gday Doug and Richo,

Just found some thing in the bia's boating catalogue, A one way bunk for a self draining cockpit 41mm diameter, the scuppers on the prowler are 43mm in diameter so i'll head over to bia's tomorrow and check them out.

Cheers Dave

 

[DGax65]

All of my kayaks are SOT. The chance of death resulting from a flooded cokpit on a SOT is not high. Ocean Kayaks are notoriously wet rides. There always seems to be water coming in through the rear scuppers. The scupper plugs will keep you somewhat dry in calm conditions. In any chop you're going to be wet regardless. I just chose to keep the plugs in most of the time and pump out when necessary. The only times I'd have a problem would be launching through surf. My Drifter got even slower than normal after punching through a wave and having the cockpit filled with 25kg of water. Usually not a problem; just a slower paddle to get through the surf = taking more waves to the chest. In fact, I would occasionally tip my yak to flood the cockpit when making bait. Rather than having to turn around and put each mackerel in the bait tank, I just shook them off the sibiki into the cockpit. After I had enough bait I would put them in the tank and pump out. I only did this if the bait action was fast and furious and I didn't want to waste time.

 

[justcrusin]

Gday guys got those drain plugs today they llok to be excellent fitted into the scuppers with a nice size bead of sikaflex marine grade around them and they come with a bung plug to so hey instant live well.

Found that the problem wasn't my siliconing but rather a cheap shitty screw hatch with lousy rubber seals. New hatch this time in black and the yak is being filled (slowly) with GP2 expanding foam floatation. This appears to be the main foam used in boat construction. The water test will probably be thursday.

Cheers Dave