Repair & maintenance: Flying Fifteen Flotation

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Flying Fifteen Flotation

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Repair & maintenance
Forum Discription: Questions & tips on the subject
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11656
Printed Date: 13 May 25 at 10:24pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Flying Fifteen Flotation

Posted By: Dave Holmes
Subject: Flying Fifteen Flotation
Date Posted: 17 Sep 14 at 2:21pm

Any ideas please on how to bring a waterproof tube from a spinnaker bow launcher to the cockpit in a FF so that the cockpit can be sealed to provide flotation?

Replies:

Posted By: knotty78
Date Posted: 19 Sep 14 at 5:30pm

tractor inner tube possibly? cut either side of the valve then you have a rubber tube

Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 19 Sep 14 at 5:44pm

Not quite sure what you mean, but conventionally if a chute goes through a tank then it will be solid tube the whole way. Hate to think what the friction would be like if you pulled a kite through an inner tube, no matter how big the diameter...

Posted By: Dave Holmes
Date Posted: 20 Sep 14 at 8:19pm

Hello there - No I didn't mean a rubber tube. I just need practical advice from someone who has built a hard construction tube/pipe/enclosed channel from the bow launcher to the cockpit, and which passes through the sealed bulkhead under the mast into the cockpit and doesn't admit water into the sealed bow chamber. I am contemplating making it our of grp and am wondering how to ensure the inner surface is smooth and free as possible from friction.

Posted By: zippyRN
Date Posted: 12 Oct 14 at 3:27pm

Originally posted by JimC

Not quite sure what you mean, but conventionally if a chute goes through a tank then it will be solid tube the whole way. Hate to think what the friction would be like if you pulled a kite through an inner tube, no matter how big the diameter...

as jim suggests if a spi chute passes through ( rather than above) the bow tank it's generally a solid fibreglass or plastic ( big drain pipe /soil stack / sewer ) tube bonded to the chute at the bow and brought out into the cokpit in board with a short sock / restraint net to stop the spinnaker putlling right through

soil pipe seems to be freely available fro mthe DIY shed / builders merchants / online in 110 and 160 mm diameters and in white / grey / black as well as fake terracotta colour ...

Posted By: Dave Holmes
Date Posted: 24 Oct 14 at 11:47am

Thank you all - that seems to be the solution - I once saw an adaptor which slid over the complex-shaped bow launcher with the other end being circular to accommodate such a pipe. I don't suppose these are available. I can bodge one I am sure, but looking for an easy way! Thanks all!