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OK GUYS HERE WE GO

“THE VORTEX” Is a device that you insert into the top of the scupper that allows the water on the deck to drain out but prevents water from back flushing up and onto the deck of your boat. Plain and simple this is a low teck easy to make, easy to install and since it is removerable it is easy to clean. This is the device that will keep you feet dry and toasty which I know you guys up north will especially enjoy. “THE VORTEX” Works and Works great.

Tools needed to make your own “VORTEX”
1. one 6 pack of beer. (this is both for the manufacturing procedure and for the celebration time taken on the water after you install your “VORTEX”.
2. you will need two straight PVC fittings ½ x ½” sprinkler system adapters. You want to get the male end threaded but and the female end the regular for pipe fitting look. The Home Depo # is 436-005 invoice # 012871626012 The cost of these fittings are .21 each total cost = .42
3. then you need to walk over to the kitchen sink sections and buy two o rings if you want the regular “VORTEX” but if you want to spring for the Deluxe “VORTEX” you want to buy four o rings. The size is 7/8 x ¾ x 1/16” model # 35744B and Home Depo invoice # is 037155357444 The cost of these o rings are .17 cents a piece or another additional .34 for the regular “VORTEX” or .68 for the Deluxe, but if you are on a budget you can use two rubber bands works just as good but will not last as long and are not very classy.
4. you will need either 10” of Stainless Steel thick wire (I used one old bicycle spoke they are stainless steel) or you can use approx 1’ of 60 to 100 lbs mono leader.
5. you will also need approx 6 “ of black electrical tape (oh buy the way if you cant find any rubber bands you can use approx 12” of tape for both gaskets instead of the o rings. Another approx .01 for the tape.

There are two types of “THE VORTEX” that have been Bata tested, you will have to decide which one is right for you and collect the necessary hardware for either. The first type of “THE VORTEX” are the collapsible diaphragm “VORTEX” and the second is the flutter or flap valve “VORTEX” I will say both work equally well but the flap type will last longer because of the materials. The flap valve also provides a more appealing appearance but will take additional craftsmanship to make it.

Lets start with the collapsible diaphragm “VORTEX” You can use either.
1. two balloons
2. two fingers of medium thick latex gloves.
3. or two Trojan condoms

If you go with the plastic version you will need either
1. two 2 oz soft plastic cups. Or two small measuring plastic cups, or two very small dental cups or something like that.
2. or one 2 track tape box. You will want the soft plastic type.
I will further explain the diaphragm and the flap valve as we continue into the manufacturing process of “THE VORTEX”

Manufacturing Steps Of “THE VORTEX”

The manufacturing process is so easy you hardly can believe it. Its quick, Its easy, It works great, Its cheep, and even you can make your own “VORTEX”
1. step one open one of those beers and slug it down to get you in the mood of “VORTEX” Manufacturing.
2. step two open up another beer for the process.
3. take the pvc adapter and measure ½” down from the female end mark with a felt pen and then take a hack saw and cut it off removing and barbs after the sawing process.
4. take a sip or two of beer #2
5. take a felt pen and mark two dots on opposite sides of the remanding portion of the female end. The dots should be approx 1/8 to ¼ “down the remanding female side then take another sip or two of beer.
6. take a 3/32 drill bit and drill two small holes in the dots.
7. take another sip.
8. take your wire and make a thumb pull device by bending a horse shoe looking loop in the wire attaching into the two holes. Or you can use mono leader and make your thump pull by tying knots our using crimps.
9. congratulations are in order, you have completed the majority of work needed too completing “THE VORTEX” HAVE ANOTHER SIP OR TWO.

Directions and further explanations for the rubber collapsible diaphragm “VORTEX”

1. If you choose balloons you will need two medium to large size, thick balloon from the Dollar Store the throat is approx ¾ “ you will want to cut the tip of both balloons off so there is a approx 1” hole at the end. Then slide balloon onto the threades side of “THE VORTEX” take your tape and tape balloon onto “THE VORTEX” then slide one or two o rings over the balloon and up ‘THE VORTEX’ approx 1/3 to ½ up the shaft.
2. or if you choose the fingers from a latex glove cut the fingers out of your latex fiberglass glover. I have found that the 3 larger fingers are the best and you want to use the medium thick gloves. Do not use the extra thick yellow gloves they have some felt in the inside to make them easy to take off your hand but they hinder the collapsing process. I like the green latex gloves thick enough but easy to use. You will want to cut a longitudinal cut approx ¾ “ starting from the tip of the finger downward. Take finger insert it onto the male threaded side of ‘THE VORTEX” tape in place and again one or two o rings as stated in #1
3. now for the Trojan “VORTEX” I must say that the third choice is (defiantly the crowd pleaser ) but the rubber in it is not quite thick enough for lasting usage, but I promises you will get a days worth of pleasure out of them especially if you have a female first mate whose job is the insertion of the Trojan “VORTEX” into your scupper holes. Follow instructions on #1 of balloon diaphragms. The extra expense of the Trojan’s have not been calculated into overall cost.

Now lets talk about the more rigid flap valve approach. If you go this way you will want to cut out the appearance like a golf ball sitting on top of a golfers tee out of the materials stated below. What you do is outline the ball part using a penny on the bottom close to the side wall of the cup and the tee on the side wall of the cup.

1. you can use a 2 oz soft sided cup like you get cold slaw or ketchup at a restaurant in. The top of the cup is larger that the bottom of the cup. You want the non brittle type plastic cups you can also use small measuring cups in cough medicine or little cups at the dentist office. What you are looking for a soft small cup that has a approx 70 degree angle from the bottom of the cup up the wall of the cup. In that way the round portion of the rigid flap valve stays open because of the memory in the plastic. That will allow water to go out quite easily and will flap shut with the pressure on water wanting to come up and in your boat. The thickness of the cup should be thin enough to permit the flap to work. These small cups and containers work very well and I prefer this one over all the rest. After marking the outline I used my Drummel with a sanding disk in it to carve out the plastic outline but I also have used a pair of scissors that works ok. Then tape the golfers tee onto the threaded side of “THE VORTEX” and then your o rings as before.
2. the other material you can use is a old box from a 2 track tape. Yes friends the box works great. Again cut the round ball out of the top of the box and the tee out of the folded side Oh buy the way the tee should be approx ¼ “ wide and approx ½ to 2/3” long. I am sure there are many other products that can be used and perhaps some of you will come up with some thing that is easy to get or work with.
The key to using the plastic is the approx 25 to 30 degree angle from the bottom of the cup up the wall or the side of the cup which lets the flap stay open.

Field testing “THE VORTEX”

If you haven’t finished that second beer it’s time you did. It is now time for you to go out on the water and test “THE VORTEX” yourself. Take the other reminding beers get your boat plus “THE VORTEX” and splash her. Please remember to remove all debris and leaves from the inside of the boat put boat in water and then insert “THE VORTEX” . After you have tested for a while and with confidence say how great they work take the remaining beers out of the cooler and offer a toast to “THE VORTEX”.
At the end of the day remove clean with fresh water and let dry. Do not let them stay is your scuppers for prolonged periods of time and never ever leave them in a boat that is unattended or on a boat that is left in water overnight. I would not want them to clog up with a leave and cause rain water not to have proper access to exit your deck.
President and CEO of “THE VORTEX
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