DeBrito leak

As for replacing with the Epic or Anderson, no such luck they are both smaller. You will have to get them fitted professionally as you have to make the hole smaller. I am considering doing this to my ski as my DeBrito has failed too many times.

Hi all,

before some now rush to throw out their deBrito, please consider whether it is worth it, and what to use instead.

1. A surfski is not a flatwater racing boat. Most bullet venturi bailers always leak when still, and drag when moving. In waves you immediately forget about the problem.
2. In one of my wooden boats I initially mounted an Andersen Mini. It just did not drain enough, so I replaced it with a deBrito which drains twice as fast, damn the leakage (and I rarely paddle on the ocean). For a metal Anderson bailer to be as effective as a deBrito, you have to choose quite a big (and heavy) one, according to my experience - I have used Anderson bailers of different sizes as well as deBrito and SuperShute 60 (of the latter both I mounted were absolutely tight). Light bailers have a better weight-pump-ratio, but mostly stick out more into the cockpit. 

Just my xx cents.

I have no problem with leaks, I understand they are not designed for watertight operation but reducing drag and removing water efficiently. The problem I have is the durability, my one has broken 3 times and that is not good enough!

Hi Ranga,
that is too much indeed! My deBritos just leaked to different degrees, but did not break.

After experimenting with different gaskets for my leaking DeBrito-Bailer I finally found a material that works.
It´s made of EVA foam (Ethlene Vinyl Acetate) They make insulation matresses out of it.
So far I had only had two training sessions with it but even after one hour of paddling with the bailer closed the footwell was still dry. So that´s a big improvement. I hope it will stay like this.

EVA is available from most Podiatry suppliers. It usually comes in sheets 2mm or 3mm thick. probably around A$35 for a sheet Briggate Medical supplies in Victoria, Australia sell it.Very durable. EVA is essentially the stuff most shoe soles are made of, so it retains its shape well. It also comes in varying densities, so it can be fairly soft and cushioning or extremely hard.

The EVA foam that I used was fairly soft and compressible. The thickness is 4 mm.

I used this and it seemed to work fine XCEL-Neoprene-Foam-Sheet in 1/8" thickness. 
The appropriate thickness of EVA should work fine as well.  When I took my ski's gasket out it was torn and compressed so not surprising it leaked.  8 months later it still doesn't leak and it was an easy fix once I found the right material.

-- Andrew

M.v.E. wrote: After experimenting with different gaskets for my leaking DeBrito-Bailer I finally found a material that works.
It´s made of EVA foam (Ethlene Vinyl Acetate) They make insulation matresses out of it.
So far I had only had two training sessions with it but even after one hour of paddling with the bailer closed the footwell was still dry. So that´s a big improvement. I hope it will stay like this.

Quick Update: Since I changed the gasket I had approximately 10 training sessions with my Nelo 550 and so far there is only a spoonfull of water in the bucket after 90 minutes of paddling in calm water.
I wonder why the manufacturer of the bailer is not able to provide a better gasket material in the first place. 

I changed mine in March and only get the same amount of water in my Nelo 550 as well.
My gasket was compressed and ripped when I took it out, so of course it leaked.

-- Andrew

My 550L is just starting to leak but not enough to be an issue (2017 model)
I have fixed these in the past quite simply with a bead of silicone along the rear edge only, Just to build it up slightly. Don't add to much and try a second skim coat if it's not enough. 
Leave it open overnight to set - cheap and easy.