Repair & maintenance: "Non-Laser" bailer spring plate

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"Non-Laser" bailer spring plate

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=11849
Printed Date: 13 May 25 at 7:15pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: "Non-Laser" bailer spring plate

Posted By: piglet
Subject: "Non-Laser" bailer spring plate
Date Posted: 09 Jan 15 at 6:36pm

Anyone got an opinion on these?
I've just fitted one, eventually. I found his Youtube tutorial useless.
It didn't even fit, I had to trim the 'trapped end' with her best kitchen scissors (shshsh!)
It is now in and does appear to be working but doesn't inspire me with confidence.
Am I missing something or have I been robbed of 8 1/2 quid?

Replies:

Posted By: PeterG
Date Posted: 10 Jan 15 at 10:13am

Not quite sure if what you have is what I have? I fitted a pair of stainless steel springs about 6 years ago to mine and I don't remember any problems, and they worked flawlessly ever since - far better than the awful rubber bands do even when new.

It's so long ago I've forgotten where I got them - it was mail order from someone on the South Coast who made and distributed them himself. Googling just now seems to show a vast number of possible alternative spring systems - so I've no idea what you have. Nor I'm afraid do I have much memory of how they fitted - it's too long ago!

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Peter
Ex Cont 707
Ex Laser 189635
DY 59

Posted By: jeffers
Date Posted: 12 Jan 15 at 7:10am

I had the stainless springs from Stephen Green (I think). They worked very well and are now class legal (as are the other metal spring arrangements).

The spirngs I had were a bugger to fit, very fiddly but once installed did years of sterling service (still going strong).

-------------
Paul
----------------------
D-Zero GBR 74

Posted By: piglet
Date Posted: 12 Jan 15 at 9:55am

This one is the flat plate spring from Rooster.

I take it the others are a pair of wire springs?

Posted By: jeffers
Date Posted: 12 Jan 15 at 12:17pm

There are, I have not seen the Rooster installed but it did look to be a better solutions the the individual springs (on paper).

Stephen Greens solution is now being sold by Maldon Sailboats:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SELF-BAILER-SPRINGS-LASER-DINGHY-LIFETIME-GUARANTEE-NO-MORE-BROKEN-O-RINGS-/321627080901?pt=UK_Sporting_Goods_Sailing&hash=item4ae277c8c5" rel="nofollow - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SELF-BAILER-SPRINGS-LASER-DINGHY-LIFETIME-GUARANTEE-NO-MORE-BROKEN-O-RINGS-/321627080901?pt=UK_Sporting_Goods_Sailing&hash=item4ae277c8c5

-------------
Paul
----------------------
D-Zero GBR 74

Posted By: piglet
Date Posted: 12 Jan 15 at 12:28pm

Thanks Jeffers, here are your springs separately:

http://www.maldonsailboats.co.uk/index.php?dispatch=categories.view&category_id=390" rel="nofollow - http://www.maldonsailboats.co.uk/index.php?dispatch=categories.view&category_id=390

£7.50,,a whole quid cheaper than the Rooster plate spring.

The Rooster plate is a good plan but I reckon it needed to be a good bit thicker/stiffer

AND pre-bent.

When fitted it's folded so far back on itself that the spring material permanently deforms and looses it's springiness, it is Rizla thin as well.

Posted By: jeffers
Date Posted: 12 Jan 15 at 12:43pm

Go for the other ones then, they worked for years and are still going strong I believe. The current owner hasnt had to do anything with the bailer since he bought the boat of mee 2 years ago (or so)

-------------
Paul
----------------------
D-Zero GBR 74

Posted By: philipk
Date Posted: 11 May 15 at 11:55am

I designed and manufacture the laser bailer spring plate. Having sailed a laser for 20 odd years, I got fed up with changing the "o" rings in the standard bailer. I designed & tested some 10 different prototype spring plates in my laser for over a year before perfecting the best design. The design works using both the springiness of the stainless steel plate, and on the mechanical action of the bailer lever. The spring effect is not actually required because the lever does all the work. So the thickness of the plate is not an issue. The springiness arises from the way the plate fits within the bailer. Anyway, that's perhaps not relevant, since the design works, and I have made 1000's without a failure or return.

The design will not work properly with "old" style laser bailers made prior to the current "nautos" stamped ones. It is a quirk of the tiny changes made to the mouldings when the tooling was re-engineered some 15 years ago, but the two designs look the same, but there are subtle changes. Do not try to fit this spring plate to an "old style" laser bailer, the result will be poor. I tried to redesign a version to fit, but this is not possible, it simply will not function correctly because of the detailed geometric differences to the two bailer designs. However, it is designed for and fits the "nautos" moulding perfectly.

My design is sold exclusively by Rooster Sailing throughout the world. By the way, there is absolutely no money to be made out of making these things. I did it as a bit of fun since my business has a laser cutting machine which is used for other things and its nice to think lots of people are using it. Steve Cockerell has done a great service by distributing it, and marketing it. Thanks Steve. If you think it is a good product, tell your fellow laser sailors. The sad thing is when you fit this thing, you will never look at it again. It's fit and forget.

Posted By: piglet
Date Posted: 11 May 15 at 9:48pm

Thanks for the reply Philip.
Can't say if Nautos or not but it is an older bailer and I didn't know there were 2 types.
It is now in the boat and is still working.

You could ask Rooster to let you make a new install video.