Help please.  A search of this site hasn't helped me identify what the preferred solution is to two details (and I don't live close enough to other Merlins).  Current flaps are single piece each side, screwed direct to transom and depend on weight of water to bend them sufficiently open.  I suspect it will surprise no-one to know that it is not working.

1.  Hinges or tape?  If hinges, made from what?  If tape, is duct tape strong enough?

2.  Sealing strip.  If I am sailing the boat right, then the transom flaps shouldn't be in the water, so sealing them, other than by pulling them shut with the elastic, shouldn't be necessary, should it?  So why the talk about foam strips etc?

Thanks

Bill

I use a thin but stiff plastic cut to a single shape for both sides at once and screwed to boat on the pintels vertical line.  That acts as sufficient 'hinge'.  Create closing device by thin lines attached to plastic on each opening to position inside boat about 300 mm in along centre line.  Works very well and seals sufficiently not to leak.

Not actually my idea, came with the boat so I guess it must be GGGGs

No idea whose idea it was but you can buy the plastic sheet from Pinnell & Bax (and I daresay others) and for once, it is not very expensive.  It works well so long as transom surface is smooth and flat.

Much better than trying to muck around with sealing tape etc.

If using a cloth hinge we use sail number dacron, not sail repair tape. a piece 50mm wide the length of the top edge is fine any good sailmaker should find you a bit.red white black or blue, if no luck drop me a line I,ll send you some, regards Barry.

just lay up 2 little squares of carbon fibre - 2 layers of 200gsm should do it.

It has no real benefits but it sure looks trick!

Don't use food bags for peel-ply like I did though cos you get "FROZEN ON" written in reverse on your hinge........

polycarbonate sheet, 2 or 2.5mm, pinnel & bax sell it 500 x 180 but i'm not sure it will be wide enough to do both flaps together. or get some from your local plastic supplier - they're everywhere.

mine is one piece screwed to transom along pintel line as suggested above and bungeed with thin elastic shock cord linking both flaps via a hook on the hog- just ping off and away you go!

smear of vaseline to seal doesn't hurt (ooerr! on the transom flaps of course!)

extruded sheet - like makrolon or similar

'local plastic supplier...' What a fascinating concept.  Here in Inverness we are currently experimenting with bakelite but there is a general view that the material has little future.  

Thanks all.  I'll start with sail number fabric since I happen to have some spare and progress from there.