Drain plug in dinghy floor.

  • 17 Nov 2015 03:39
    Reply # 3637218 on 3636371
    Deleted user

    Unless you are wanting the rubber duck to drasin while it is hanging in davits the simplest way to empty it of course is to tip it upside down. To create a drain with no protrusions I would make a simple duck bill valve from PVC fabric. It could be pulled inside the dibghy when not required to drain and sealed by folding it overt and securing with valcro or even a bulldog clip. Cheap and easy and no protrusions so the dibghy could drain completely.

  • 17 Nov 2015 01:06
    Reply # 3637036 on 3636371

    I'd say transom is best if the dinghy has one. An inflation valve could work if you cut out some parts, but they are fairly tall and you would either have a significant projection below the boat, or if installed from the other side, you would only have access to unplug from below the boat.  I'd be tempted to go down to the hardware store and look at what they have in the PVC pipe section.  You'd want a threaded fitting you could cut down with as wide a flange as you can find to grab the fabric.  If you have a PVC dinghy then you can even glue it in place.  If I couldn't find that, I'd go with the inflation valve David suggested, but cut it down aggressively and just use a rubber plug rather than the plug that comes with inflation valves.

  • 16 Nov 2015 19:47
    Reply # 3636568 on 3636371

    I think I'd try to find an inflation valve, as these are specifically designed for fitting into the fabric of a dinghy.

  • 16 Nov 2015 18:23
    Reply # 3636397 on 3636371
    Deleted user
    Iain Grigor wrote:

    Does anybody have any ideas about how to source and

    install a drain plug in the (floppy, rubber) floor of an

    inflatable dinghy?


    Does it have a hard transom? That is where the drain plugs usually are for inflatables. Otherwise I imagine you could take just about any kind of drain plug and insert it through the floor, (hull) so long as you reinforced the hole you have cut, maybe even with a small round of plywood glued onto the hull fabric.
  • 16 Nov 2015 17:59
    Message # 3636371

    Does anybody have any ideas about how to source and

    install a drain plug in the (floppy, rubber) floor of an

    inflatable dinghy?

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