Surf Ski Venturi, Bailer, or EOS Insert or Both

History of Bailers

When I first started paddling surf skis they all had venturis. Some skis had one, some had two, some were well placed for effortless draining, some had poor placement resulting in poor draining at lower speeds. However, by in large, most skis drained adequately without giving it a second thought.

The first time I saw a bailer in a surf ski (albeit a pure flatwater surf ski) was when I purchased my first Van Dusen Mohican. It was designed by legendary designer Ted Van Dusen of a rowing shell, paddle, and K1 fame. Anderson bailers have been used on sailing dinghies for half a century. A bailer in a ski makes sense, since keeping the cold waters of New England out while reducing drag with faster draining. Then a few years later, Epic designed their original V12 1G with an Anderson bailer. See my review. https://surfskiracing.org/2009/07/epic-v12-ultra-review-by-wesley-echols/

Due to the cost of Anderson bailers, they decided to design and manufacture their own that is still used today. Since Epic was the market leader at that time, some other brands decided it to maybe it a good idea to put a bailer in their skis. So Nelo, Think, and later Stellar, all within a few years decided De Brito bailers would benefit paddlers.

The De Brito Bailer was designed by Magnus De Brito from Swede. It comes in the Race and Standard version with different lever and open settings.

Fast forward a number of years when I worked for Stellar. I was asked if I thought bailers were a good idea after the Debrito bailers had been out for a couple of years in the Nelo and Think skis. I said no, explaining it is just something to go wrong with marginal benefit. I suggested however that if you wanted to improve the draining in Stellar skis, move the two venturis forward and wider similar to the older Fenns that drained well. Even the single venturi on the older Thinks with the cap drained adequately. My other suggestion was to place a bailer only in the recreational skis. Many of these paddlers are slower and sometimes heavier (sinking the skis further into the water) so they are not able to realize the speeds to drain the footwell. My suggestion was not heeded and today Stellars now have Debrito bailers along with Nelo and the Thinks skis. So, as you can see, I have not been a fan of bailers for a long time.

Why Bailers at all?

So why have a bailer in the first place when venturis were working? To gain speed with less drag of venturis, quicker drainage, warmer feet for cold water paddlers? All these seem reasonable. However, in practice, these benefits were only partially realized due to the design of the Debrito bailers and how paddlers use them in everyday paddling and racing. Also, why increase the cost in labor, parts, and potential problems, regarding bailers? Bailers remind me, of competing brands trying to stay current. Nothing wrong with that. Some ideas work and some don’t. In the case of bailers, the concept is great but I am not sure the 1st generation Debrito bailer is completely up to the task. Don’t get me wrong, most work nicely regardless of what brand of the ski. However, some are a source of frustration even when they are working correctly; opening, and closing them during a paddle or race. Many of us now, in ocean paddling, keep them open, which is one solution, but it kind of defeats the purpose.

Expectations are high for many paddlers. Give them a bailer and they expect NO water in the footwell sloshing about either from splash or a bailer leaking every mile. Take your foot off the pedal slightly to open/close a bailer during a race and that time adds up and increases the possibility for capsizing for some of us (messing with the bailer, ugh). In racing, we are always thinking about if I close the bailer will I go faster? Well if it is is fully open, it will slow you down. Sometimes in the heat of racing, you don’t know what setting it is on. Also, some bailers are hard to open and close. So with the extra force applied means often damaging the bailer. With a bailer, you also have to remember to close it when setting the ski down on the ground or pushing your ski onto your V Bars. Furthermore, the bailer often complicates the demo experience. I often tell novice paddlers NOT to use the bailer. I also explain to new customers, “BE GENTLE with your bailer”.

Solutions

So over the years, I have come up with many solutions to my bailer problems on any brand of ski that I have owned. Here they are: my buddy Chris suggested using Teflon lubricant, so I now use that. I also put a piece of tape marking the bailer position and the gate to know if closed or open. I have even propped open a bailer with a tiny piece of foam to get the open position I wanted. I also experimented with a different gasket type that does not compress as much as the neoprene over time. I have resealed a few bailers including my Andersen Bailer on one of my Mohicans. However, I have replaced only one bailer in all my skis.

Now the great part of this post. Paddler Steve Ulrich and his good friend Mark McKenzie of Elite Ocean Sports have come up with a solution, the Elite Ocean Sports INSERT.

Elite Ocean Sports Insert, http://eliteoceansports.com/products/accessories/#prettyPhoto

This insert reverts the De Brito bailer back to a venturi in all of a 5-minute reversible installation. I am so happy about this I can not believe it. I have installed the EOS(Elite Ocean Sports) insert on two of my personal skis that did not leak and worked perfectly because I like a no-fuss, no-hassle, venturi system. I will install them in a few more of my skis too. So the insert drains in 43 seconds in the two different models I have it on. Drains nicely at slow speeds too. Just unscrew the 6 screws on the top cover, take out the lever, and then insert the insert, and place the cover back on with the 6 screws and away you go on whatever De Brito bailer ski you are paddling. It is reversible so you could interchange the insert and the bailer. Paddling life is Good!! Thanks, Steve and Mark! So to the Elite Ocean Sports link below to order your now.

So let me be clear. Regardless of the brand of ski that uses De Brito bailers, most work fine and many paddlers have no complaints. Some, however, have experienced leaks, breaks, pop-outs, etc and this has led to frustration. On whole, my experience has been mostly favorable with bailers though I prefer a venturi or now this insert.