Small leak in Hull

J

jmas

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I have vacumed out and towel dried all water from Bilge in lower cabin area of my boat.
There is a very small amount of water seeping in thru what appears to be a tiny crack or hole in very lowest part of bilge. I have tried the 2 part epoxy that you nead by hand and is supposed to cure in water but water gets thru before stuff can cure. Bilge Pumps have no trouble keeping ahead of the leak but I would like to try and seal the crack or hole before having to haul the boat out.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
 
I dunno if you have a cored hull, but even if not, I'd be concerned about water intrusion into the fiberglass laminates causing even more problems. The proper fix would be to haul the boat and fix from the waterside. Anything else is just a temporary band-aid-perhaps that was your original question. I could not detemine from your original post. In any case, waiting could result in more damage. A good glassman might be able to correct the problem during a short-haul. Just my 2 cents.
 
When I lived in Ketchikan we used Marine-Tex to stop leaks in Gas tanks, boat hulls and some other nasty leaks.
 
Patching the inside will not do as the water will find its way elsewhere, you have to find the source which be some distance away

I had a similar problem years ago when a missing transom xducer screw let water in the hull. It ended up coming out 15' forward thru a pin hole in the forward bold gelcoat. I was lucky it was right under an access hatch

Start with underwater hardware like xducer, thru hulls etc
 
Has it been determined if the water is fresh water or salt water?
 
I agree that the boat should be hauled if I can determine where the water is coming from.
Did not think to check if water is salt or fresh. Will do tomorrow.
Leak looks like pin hole size so Im not in a Panic.(YET)
 
Do you know where the water is coming from or not? I'm confused. In the OP you talk about trying to patch it, but in the above post you say you need to determine where the water is coming from.
 
If it s coming out in the bilge thru a pin hole in the laminate you can bet it s salt water...

Problem is that water can wick thru a laminate over a distance making it hard to find the source. Could also be coming in at a strut bolt since your boat has inboards Start looking at stuff which is lined up with that spot. Ex if the spot is on the starboard side, check the stbd strut, or any thru hull, transducer etc one that side. Do you have a transom mount xducer or pitot/speed
 
"On the other hand" it might stay as is for another 15 years...?
 
quote:
Originally posted by Philyteach

Do you know where the water is coming from or not? I'm confused. In the OP you talk about trying to patch it, but in the above post you say you need to determine where the water is coming from.

Click to expand...


Philyteach
I dont know if the water is coming thru the hull(from outside) where I see it, or is it wicking thru the FG from another place along the hull,as Pascal and others have suggested. That is what I am trying to determine.
 
quote:
Originally posted by saltysam

"On the other hand" it might stay as is for another 15 years...?

Click to expand...


Bill, True, but will I stay "As Is" for another 15 years...?
 
quote:
Originally posted by rblochli

5200 until you can haul and fix correctly might work

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That is my plan. I will try the 5200.
Thanks
 
quote:
Originally posted by PascalG

If it s coming out in the bilge thru a pin hole in the laminate you can bet it s salt water...

Problem is that water can wick thru a laminate over a distance making it hard to find the source. Could also be coming in at a strut bolt since your boat has inboards Start looking at stuff which is lined up with that spot. Ex if the spot is on the starboard side, check the stbd strut, or any thru hull, transducer etc one that side. Do you have a transom mount xducer or pitot/speed

Click to expand...


Pascal, the leak is at the very bottom of the V in the hull, at the very lowest point of the hull. Hoping it is a small hole or crack in the hull at that point. That would be the easy fix when I haul the boat. Probably "No such luck" since it is "A Boat".
What ever is happening, we will fix it.
 
There is really no way to get a small crack that wouldn't be visible. A hole just can't happen...

5200 just will not work be because water will push it out before it cures
You can always inspect the hull in water (scrub the bottom paint clean) but i bet Water is coming in elsewhere.
 
If you're worried about water pushing 5200 out, place plastic film (plastic bag) over the 5200 so it spreads out create a larger area of adhesion. 1/2"-1" around the crack should be enuff.
 
okay, here's my standard suggestion for finding leaks then. Get the bilge completely dry then liberally dust with baby powder. Come back later and trace the path the water cut through the powder.
 
He s found where the leak is coming out of the laminate the question is where is the water coming before migrating to where it s coming out
 
Pascal and Jmas,
In that case, sorry. I'm on my pain meds today and I'm having a hard time concentrating. I must have misread or miscomprehended it.

PhilyT
 
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