GB2328407A

GB2328407A - `A Self-bailing boat

Info

Publication number: GB2328407A
Application number: GB9717731A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robin Johns
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-08-22
Filing date: 1997-08-22
Publication date: 1999-02-24
Also published as: GB9717731D0

Abstract

A self-bailing boat comprises a sump 2 having at least one water outlet 6 provided with a valve 3, the internal bottom of the boat being arranged to be higher than the surface of the water 7 when the boat is in an unladen condition. As shown the outlet 6 is fitted in the transom 8. Alternatively the outlet and valve may be fitted to the bottom of the boat (see Figs 3 and 4). The valve, which may be a ball or gate valve or a screwed plug, can be remotely operated, eg by a bar 4 and wheel or lever 5. Sufficient buoyancy 1 is fitted to the bottom of the boat inside to support only the weight of the boat so that the valve must be closed before the boat is loaded with passengers.

Description

SELF BAILING BOAT This invention relates to boats which can bail themselves dry when floating by opening a valve in the bottom of the boat Small boats such as yacht tenders are often left at their moorings or towed behind the yacht in adverse weather conditions The boats therefore tend to fill with water and sometimes they sink Using the invention described, with the valve open, the boat will remain dry. It can then be made seaworthy again by simply closing the valve. Should the boat be swamped with people aboard, they can go over the side, open the valve to bail the boat, close the valve to make it seaworthy, then reoccupy a dry boat. Thus the invention provides a safety feature not present in existing saall boats in addition to relieving owners of the need to manually bail the boat.

According to the present invention a valve is fitted to a hole in the bottom or transom of a boat and buoyancy is also fitted to the inside bottom of the boat which will support the weight of the boat and keep it stable when the valve is opened letting water into a sump in the buoyancy. The buoyancy should be arranged so that when the valve is open, water remains only in the sump and does not cover the buoyancy.

The valve outlet should be below the top of the sump.

The valve could simply be a screwed plug fitted to the bottom of the boat but preferably would be a ball or gate valve, The valve could be operated by a lever or wheel at the valve but preferably would be operated remotely at the side or ends of the boat.

One method of operating a ball or gate valve remotely is to fit the valve to the transom in a sump at the stern of the boat and operate the valve via a bar led up the transom to a lever or hand wheel at the top of the transom.

Another method of operating a ball valve remotely is to replace the lever with a sheave with two wires attached to the sheave One wire would be wrapped clockwise and the other anticlockwise around the sheave. The wires would be led through ducting to the side of the boat and have toggles fitted to the ends of the wires, Pulling one wire would open the valve and pulling the other would close the valve.

Emeodements of the invention will now be described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows a plan of a boat with a valve fitted in a sump at the bottom of the transom.

Figure 2 shows a section through the sump of the boat in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a plan of another boat with a ball valve fitted to the bottom of the boat.

Figure 4 shows a section through the suttp of the boat in Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2 buoyancy 1 is fitted to the bottom of the boat and a valve 3 is fitted in the sump 2 with its opening 6 at the bottom of the transom. Sufficient buoyancy 1 is fitted so that when the valve is open the water level 7 inside and outside the boat is below the top of the buoyancy. The valve is operated via a bar 4 led up the transom 8 by a wheel or lever 5. Sufficient buoyancy is fitted to support only the weight of the boat so the valve must be closed before the boat is loaded with passengers. The boat can be left on its mooring with the valve open and will then self bail. Alternatively if the boat is left with the valve closed and rainwater and spray enters the boat the valve can be opened to bail the boat then closed before use.

Referring to Figure 3 and Figure 4 the surtp 9 in the buoyancy 10 is now mDre central and a valve 11 is fitted to the bottom of the boat. The ball valve is actuated by a sheave 12 and two wires 13 one wound clockwise and one anticlockwise around the sheave. The wires are led through ducts 14 to toggles 15. Pulling one toggle closes the valve and pulling the other opens the valve. With the valve open there should be sufficient buoyancy to support the weight of the boat with the water level below the top of the buoyancy.

Claims

1 A boat with a valve fitted to a hole in the bottom or transom and buoyancy also fitted to the inside bottom of the boat which will support the weight of the boat and keep it stable when the valve is opened letting water into a sump in the buoyancy.

2 A boat as claimed in Claim 1 when the valve is a ball valve.

3 A boat as claimed in Claim 1 when the valve is a gate valve.

4 A boat as claimed in Claim 1 when the valve is a screwed plug.

5 A boat as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2 when the valve is operated at the valve.

6 A boat as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2 when the valve is operated remotely at the side or ends of the boat.

7 A boat as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 3 when the valve is operated at the valve.

8 A boat as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 3 when the valve is operated remotely at the side or ends of the boat.

9 A boat substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

10 A boat substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 3 and 4.