Hello All.
Noticed this thread and must confess to some confusion.
On reading it I ran out to my BR (Wood Epoxy, built in 2008, No 12) on my driveway at the moment, where it's been getting a good clean and sort out after a good weeks sailing down at Walton and off my own coast here.
As I thought, all three of my self bailers built into the water ballast tank are definitely facing REAR and and have all the 'flaps' in place - (Peter. I have emailed you separately. Are you still suffering the effects of that excellent Thatchers cider!?). I would be interested in knowing if BR's earlier than mine had forward facing 'bailers to 'force feed' the ballast tank as Claus informs?
My preferred method for filling the tank is to use the large rear 'bailer, push it open and close the hatch and let it fill. I have a built in vent in my ballast tank, I was under the impression that all BR's (and BC's?) had the vent as standard, obviously not.
As with just about everyone else, emptying has been an issue. I had resorted to just letting it empty at the end of the day whilst pulling it up the trailer. But after reading posts in other threads have now purchased a 38 mm (with one way valve fitted) and 25 mm transom drain plugs and will be fitting them soon, again, to empty into the sump where I currently have an old 12v bilge pump to empty into the o/b well. I'll see if that will cope, if not I'll fit a whale pump.
As Claus rightly says, when left on a mooring my 'bailers do leak slightly, but so far this has never been an issue for me.
Fair winds!
Andy - and my ageing BayRaider 'Psalter'!