Autobailers

[bugfanatic]

Didn't know where to post this - so I'll post it here. In the past I have recommended taking the wire out of the back of the autobailer & replacing it with a 1/16" cotter pin. Mainly due to the fact that the wire was flimsy & could easily snag on something letting your ball fall out when you weren't looking. I just got 3 more autobailers from Aeromarine Laminates & they must have seen my posts about this because they now come with thicker wire & the ends are tucked around neatly & not just folded over into the center where they could get snagged. Nice job!! No more field modifying - they are great right out of the package. For those who may not know what an autobailer is, it is mainly a one-way valve with a ball in it. This is made from a tube about 3/8" diameter & 1" long. When the boat moves forward, the water pushes the ball back out of the way so the water can escape out of the hull. At rest, the ball will float up into the autobailer choking off the valve so water can't get in. Of course, they don't always work 100% & you have to keep them clean or they won't seal.

[Rosati]

I made my own out of 3/8 aluminum rod, a shock o-ring from associated shocks, a plastic BB from the kids toy gun, and a cotter pin. After installing it into a 2 liter Coke bottle and filling it up, it drains in about 1 minute. I then pushed the bailer into the pool about 1" below the surface and nothing but 1 drop of water after a few minutes.
I then pushed the bottle all the way in up to the neck and it still onl let about a drop of water in.
I had all materials on hand and it only took abotu an hour to drill the rod out.