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Hi Paul,
Many thanks for your observations which are much appreciated. I have posed the same query on the CVRDA boat repair forum along with some photos and it was pointed out that I may be able to get a side hung outwards opening flap behind the rudder stock. There would be about 3 cm clearance which would allow the flap to open slightly more and a bit extra when the rudder is turned. That would allow some draining. I have to say that I am tempted by this or as you say just living without a flap. Regards, Jon

Hi Howard, Thanks for the reply. I appreciate that properly working flaps are useful but of course the problem I have is that I can not fit an outward opening flap because the rudder stock is directly behind the narrow section of transom available as the rest is covered internally by the built in buoyancy tanks. The clearance betwen transom and rudder stock would render an outward opening flap useless. I have never encountered an inward opening single flap before which is why I was wondering if it was a 'good idea' fitted by a previous owner and not original spec. The rear quarter tanks look original and I am reluctant to do away with these and revert to buoyancy bags. I can not see any pictures on the class site of another 12 with a single centre flap, they are all conventionaly positioned twin flaps or absent on pre '65 'ish boats. I would guess that there are not many Clean Sweep 12's left and I would rather live with a dodgy inward opening flap (peg it shut and elastic to open I suppose) than alter an original boat as the whole idea is to have a classic boat to sail. But if it was not original it can go. I will certainly visit the 12 stand at the Dinghy Show. Regards, Jon

Please can anyone with knowledge of vintage 12's kindly asist me with some advice over the transom of 2268? I intend to bring her back to something approaching her former glory to sail in CVRDA events and I hope some of the class association's too in due course.
There is a little information about my boat, called Hi-Fi, on the site and a picture of unknown age. She is believed to be a 'Clean Sweep' design from about 1965, clinker ply construction. The last owner obviously looked after her well and overall she is pretty solid although requiring a complete strip and repaint and general repairs. The main problem area is the transom. Around the lower rudder fitting it has been split by the screws and rot has set in so a new section will need to be grafted in.
2268 is fitted with ply 'quarter' buoyancy tanks at the stern with thin plywood panels in the transom on the outside of the tanks. Internally this leaves only a narrow section of the transom exposed near the rudder. Here is fitted an inward opening transom flap that is 10.5 cm tall. Current flap is ply, sealed with rubber and held in place with elastic. I am unsure whether this would be more trouble than it is worth and whether I would be better off doing away with it when repairs are made. Please does anyone know whether this inward opening flap would have been an original fitting? I have no wish to alter an historic boat but the blessed things can be problematic enough when they open outwards. If it is unlikly to be original it can go and I will carry an extra bucket. 
Thanks.