Following Chris' response to my post on Drying Out here's our solution:
We have a set of Dycem non slip table mats on board. These are of strong, clear plastic sheet material about 2.5mm thick. In one of them we've punched a hole for a securing line. With Crionna afloat the hardier of the crew leans over the side of the dinghy (well up to their armpit in the briny) and centres the mat over the Seacock outlet while the onboard operative cracks open the valve to allow the water pressure to seat it securely and check that there's a good seal. Then, carefully, on with the job ... easy!
This is just the same principle as the old fashioned 'Collision Mat'. Call us sad, if you will, but we have a square of robust material aboard for that 'just in case' scenario too!
For more armchair excitement check out the article 'What's that Funny Noise' in the November 2009 magazine in the website archive. It's about replacing our stern gland whilst afloat .....
John
John - thanks very much for the account of how you do it. Not for the faint hearted! I think I would find myself imagining wash from passing vessel causing the table mat to come adrift... I also anticipate the grinding in of the sea cock may take some time. But still a very useful 'how to' to have in the toolbox for those occasions when there is no other option. I do agree that having a 'collision mat' on board makes sense, something I need to remedy. I think there may be an umbrella like device you can get these days.
"FOTHERING, a peculiar method of endeavouring to stop a leak in the bottom of a ship while she is afloat, either under sail or at anchor. It is usually performed in the following manner: a basket is filled with ashes, cinders, and chopped rope-yarns, bonette lardeé*, and loosely covered with a piece of canvas; to this is fastened a long pole, by which it is plunged repeatedly in the water, as close as possible to the place where the leak is conjectured to lie. The oakum, or chopped rope-yarns, being thus gradually shaken through the twigs, or over the top of the basket, are frequently sucked into the hole along with the water, so that the leak becomes immediately choaked, and the future entrance of the water is thereby prevented."
Falconer's Dictionary of the Marine
https://www.gutenberg.org/cach.....mages.html
*bonette lardeé = bacon bonnet (according to Google Translate) 
When we had a oyster smack - that worked when sailed and leaked - a lot - there was a simple ancient box with a sliding lid. This was treasured by the man who 'kept and eye on her'. This box was on a pole. The sliding lid could be opened with a line. The box was filled with sawdust. Then, using the pole, pushed under the hull. The lid was opened with the line and the sawdust came out. Much obviously went to the surface but enough went into the seams so the smack did not need pumping every few days. An old Essex trick.
I can't remember where I read it but leaky vessels in the Thames used sometimes to have a 'Blackwall caulk'.
The mud at Blackwall was so glutinous (it doesn't take much imagination to guess what was in it!
) that settling a vessel into it as the tide ebbed resulted in the mixture being forced into the planking seams and stopping the leaks for a while.
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