If you haven't built and operated a "Simple Simon" dredge, you just haven't experienced the fun of quiet carefree dredging. This is for those of you who would really like to try dredging but just haven't got the extra bucks to throw at a gas powered model. There are a few critical points to remember when assembling the Simple Simon out there on the river or creek. First of all, as with any dredge, there must be more water volume entering the " dredge hole" than the unit will siphon out over a reasonable time period. Second, all of the joints in the pvc pipe must be completely sealed, allowing absolutely no air to enter at any point from nozzle to header box. Third, you must support all sections in as straight a line as possible. Fourth, the more drop per foot of pipe, the shorter the length of pipe needed. My experience has been that a 6 to 8 foot drop over a hundred foot span will create enough suction to vacuum the material up quite nicely.

For a flexible "nozzle pipe," use a standard 10 foot length of corrugated flex drainage line NON-perforated. Can't afford a store bought header box? just use a 5 gallon plastic bucket. Cut a round hole just large enough to slip the 3" or 4" pvc through in one side about halfway up the side. Next, cut a rectangular hole at a 90 degree angle to the round one about 1" from the bottom. I made mine about 8" wide by 4" high. A piece of 1/8" thick rubber mat bolted on at the top and draping down over the rectangular hole will curb keep the blast of water and material from washing all of the gold out the end of your sluice box. You will have to slice the rubber in one or two places vertically to allow it to flex outward toward the sluice box. Also, you may have to drape something down in front of the rubber to stiffen it for just the right tension. To mount your bucket header box to the sluice box, (which should be at least 4 feet long,) a few 1/4" bolts through the bottom will do the trick. The hardest part of using the Simple Simon is starting the siphon.

Anyone with ingenuity will figure out a spring cap/trap at the sluice end of the pipe with a catch to hold it open after the prime. Otherwise, it takes two people to get it started, one being the person at the sluice box capping and holding it on the end of the pipe until the pipe fills completely and the dredger gives the signal to "let her go." The beauty of the simple simon is that it requires no gas and it can be left running for long periods of time without worry as long as it doesn't run out of water or clog up. Also, lifting the nozzle end up out of the water or allowing it to suck air will necessitate re-priming.

Good luck out there and keep your fingers off the end of the nozzle, as the suction will have to be stopped by lifting the nozzle out of the water if they get stuck between a rock and the mouth of the nozzle.