Anyone who capsizes with a sailing canoe will face the following situation: the boat is upright in the water again, the mast is pointing up – but the hull is completely full. Three to four hectoliters of water must be removed, and fast. The sailor floats alongside, holding on to the boat with one hand, while scooping liter by liter of water out of the hull with the bailer, arm over the gunwale. No drain valve, no pump. Just muscle power. This is exhausting, so it must be done quickly. Getting the sailing canoe seaworthy again can be vital when far from shore.
What is a bailer?
A simple scooping container – often made of plastic, historically made of wood. Its sole purpose: to manually remove water from the boat. The term comes from the German words “ösen” (to pour or scoop) and “Fass” (vessel). Finds dating from the 3rd–4th century show: bailers are not a modern invention. They were already in use during the Iron Age.
Why is it still needed today?
After a capsize with a sailing canoe, the interior must be emptied as quickly as possible so the sailor can reboard. A good bailer can make the difference when emptying the boat – especially if there is no second person or external help available.
That’s why: always clip (tie) the bailer to the boat so it doesn’t float away after a capsize.
What else can help?
Buoyancy aids inside the boat – ideally inflatable ones. They keep the boat afloat
after righting and offer three major advantages:
- Less water needs to be bailed – saving energy.
- With a higher freeboard, the boat remains more stable and is less likely to
capsize agaThe canoe is less quickly refilled by oncoming waves. - The canoe is less quickly refilled by oncoming waves.
Attention, folding boat sailors!
The built-in air tubes found in many folding boats do not generate enough buoyancy to provide sufficient freeboard when the boat is flooded, leaving it vulnerable to waves refilling it. Additional buoyancy is strongly recommended for folding boat sailors.
Conclusion
The bailer is an unassuming piece of equipment that can fulfill a critical function and save a sailor’s life. Anyone sailing with a canoe should occasionally practice intentional capsizes in a safe environment (the water must be deep enough to prevent mast damage from ground contact). This builds valuable experience for emergencies and develops routine. When floating next to a flooded boat, every minute counts. Extra buoyancy creates freeboard, and less water needs to be scooped out.
Our bailer has a capacity of 3.5 liters and comes with a line and carabiner so you can secure it to your boat.
See these items in the em² shop
