My build, the "cigarette", that some would know of, is meant to be fitted with a watertight hatch (engine, electronics and exhaust safe inside), plus a couple of air intakes on the upper sides of the canopy.
My question is: Is it nessecary to install bailers, or will this be some kind of "overkill" on a boat that, apart from the air intakes, is totally waterproof?
Anyone have advices or ideas?

Cheers!

Woodie.

Hey Woodie,
My answer to this question is the same EVERY time it is an affermative YES. You would be surprised how much water can enter so called watertight hatches. If there is an opening water WILL get in, no matter how watertight you think it is. The intakes would be the first place it will leak, and then anywhere else.
Hope this helps.
Moofy

Have to agree with Moofy on this one Woodie!
If you dont put them in you will wish you did!

Hi Woodie,
Further to what I said before, your boat WILL at some stage be upside down in the water. No matter how good a driver you are I guarantee sometime make that lots it will flip and be dead in the water. This as I said is guaranteed. So put the bailers in.
Moofy

Moof and Oz.

Just as I thought you would say
This means that I have to somehow make drain holes in the deepest corners at the bottom of all 5 spants in the engine bay - on both sides of the keel - 10 in all! Not the easiest thing at this point. I sure hope my Dremel will become handy for that.
Well... what must be done must be done, so I'll do it.
Thanks anyway

Cheers!

Woodie.

Got to be an odd man out
If hull in question is fairly water tight and has flotation so it won't sink if flipped after filling with water, why would you want to have a devise that would allow MORE water into hull if it does not seal well ( As Most auto bailers do ... LEAK )
Personally call them AUTO SINKERS and try NOT to use them unless hull in question takes on a LOT of water while running. V hulls and Cats typically run pretty dry.
Low profile Riggers and Sport hulls really need bailers or just drain holes.

JMO,
Scott

I'm with Scott --- sorry guys

I have a few boats --(12)-- none have auto bailers

I don't drill uneeded holes in my boats - I run open top Razors (3) and several others (sealed ones as well like my Drambuie) and I check em when they come in and thanks to Scott's Buck fuel bags idea (in all my boats except twins now) a simple flip dumps anything out

but it sucks to watch a boat sinking for no reason except a stalled engine and stuck or debris in a bailer making it stick open after once or twice I pass on bailers now

like Scott ..... JMO

Thanks to Scott and Canadian too.

I promise that my V hull will be absolutely watertight and non-sinkable.
The canopy will be mounted on a frame with "rubber tightners" along all edges.
So the only way for water to get in is through splashes hitting the air intakes, or through the air intakes if the boat makes a turn-over and does'nt "turn back" as it should.
Even in worst case of a turn over, I think the water will stop after filling the air intakes, as the hull will be full of air, that can't escape.

But for the bailers: I haven't heard of auto bailers, like Scott mentioned. My idea was more about a very simple draining through a "water lock". That is, a tube bored through the lowest part of the stern. Inside the stern the tube should make a bend up to the deck and then back down to the bottom of the boat.
This should create suction while the boat runs, and will never let in water - not even in case of a stop or a turn over.

How about that?

Cheers!

Woodie.

Goose neck suction bailer ... That will work too

Guess Im just used to running aircooled open top boats!
I like the simple looped pipe bailers aswell as they basically suck any water that gets near them straight out like a vacuume cleaner.
But I would listen to those with the experience, would hate to see your brand new blata engine sink into oblivian!