MacGregorSailors.com

I know that our boats and are designed to be beached. But I am worred about getting stuck on a sand bar.

I was thinking about cutting a 3" hole next to the vent hole just big enough for a bilge pump. Should I get stuck and not be able to back up with the motor, I would remove the 3" cap, pump out the ballast.

Good idea or an over kill

Overkill, I'd say. Just plumb a raft inflator at the vent, open the fill valve, flip the switch and foomp! -- Away you go.

~Rich

Overkill !!!!! As Rich says, use an inflator to blow the water out. You would be using a dual purpose tool and not have to run drain hoses. Just remember to only open the fill/drain valve about 1/4 inch so that you blow the most water out before the bubbles start escaping.

We often let our X go aground from lowering tides. A nice, level, sand or mud bottom makes for wonderful sleeping. A thought came to me last time out. Once we are hard aground, and maybe high and dry, open the fill/drain valve and allow the ballast to drain out. Then close the valve and we float off in a couple less inches of water than what we went aground with. That allows us to leave earlier.

Ken

Hamin' X wrote:Overkill, I'd say. Just plumb a raft inflator at the vent, open the fill valve, flip the switch and foomp! -- Away you go.

~Rich

That's exactly what I was thinking. Just stick a 12v raft inflater to the vent and let it go. I've never tried this but I'm going to one day.

Thats correct, (Mac.S has been blowing out their water ballest for years)
Ken, when's your next trip to Florida? Love your company on our trips, make's the campfire gathering much more exciteing with your stories and strumming your Guitar Songs.
Dave

Retcoastie wrote:Overkill !!!!! As Rich says, use an inflator to blow the water out. You would be using a dual purpose tool and not have to run drain hoses. Just remember to only open the fill/drain valve about 1/4 inch so that you blow the most water out before the bubbles start escaping.

We often let our X go aground from lowering tides. A nice, level, sand or mud bottom makes for wonderful sleeping. A thought came to me last time out. Once we are hard aground, and maybe high and dry, open the fill/drain valve and allow the ballast to drain out. Then close the valve and we float off in a couple less inches of water than what we went aground with. That allows us to leave earlier.

Ken

Dave,

It will be awhile, maybe Cayo Costa. I would have come to BEERs this year but signed up to do a Cheasapke Bay trip. It leaves Monday so Pensacola to Deltaville would have been a long haul. That one should last 23-25 days. Great.

Then I'm hoping the New York trip they are talking about jells. There would be a week break between those two.

Hi to Teresa.

Ken

Thanks for the advice I will use a 12V pump

Sugar Bear

Has anybody actually done this on an X or an M?? I tried using a High Volume Foot Pump and It didn't work.. You need among other things a real good seal at the vent in the V berth! There's a bit of pressure involved and you really have to exert force to hold the hose in tight..Your pushing a lot of water out!!
I ... had to then, try and close the rear valve.... humm... I now use my rare water wash down pump operated with a 12 V solenoid ( ballast or thru hull pick up) to pump it out of the ballast tank.. it takes about 15 minutes and I am free floating..

Sugar Bear wrote:Thanks for the advice I will use a 12V pump

Sugar Bear

Here is a useful video to help understand how to drain your bildge.. Fast forward to 3:20 for Water letter outer information & correct tool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcbnIrXDsyE

Some Useful plumbing tips...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8-PlnJ3 ... re=related

Yea thats what I had in mind, sort of any way.

John McDonough wrote:Here is a useful video to help understand how to drain your bildge.. Fast forward to 3:20 for Water letter outer information & correct tool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcbnIrXDsyE

Some Useful plumbing tips...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8-PlnJ3 ... re=related

John - Please update this links. They took me to a 3 stoogies link and I really would like to see how you did this.
Thanks, Cal

So has anyone yet, to do this with the HVLP 12V pump? I am still happy with my wash down pump system being used to pump out the ballast.
That Said.. My wash down pump and thru hulls and switches for my wash down and my macerator for the head, are all located close to each other.

Cal The Three Stooges link was some of Johns humor and it was kind of funny..

WidespreadSailing wrote:

John McDonough wrote:Here is a useful video to help understand how to drain your bilge.. Fast forward to 3:20 for Water letter outer information & correct tool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcbnIrXDsyE

Some Useful plumbing tips...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8-PlnJ3 ... re=related

John - Please update this links. They took me to a 3 stooges link and I really would like to see how you did this.
Thanks, Cal

Why SOYtently......