Leaky Hull!!

Sean · #1 04-03-2007, 09:54 AM

With out fail ever trip last season by the end the bilge would start turn on for a bit, and @ the ramp a little more water then I'd like would pore out when I removed the plug. :o
Today a pressure washed most of the paint of the hull and I think I found the leak. To be sure it is the only leak/crack I was advised to wait for the hull to be bone dry, and then fill the entire bottom of the hull with water!! In theory the leak/crack will become moist and start dripping. The concept sounds like it would work, but the idea of filling my hull like a bath tub is not so appealing...
Once the crack/leak is located what is the best/easiest way to patch, MarineTex?
Any better ideas before I turn my V into a coy pound!
As always, thanks for your help/advise ;D

Sean · #2 04-03-2007, 09:54 AM

With out fail ever trip last season by the end the bilge would start turn on for a bit, and @ the ramp a little more water then I'd like would pore out when I removed the plug. :o
Today a pressure washed most of the paint of the hull and I think I found the leak. To be sure it is the only leak/crack I was advised to wait for the hull to be bone dry, and then fill the entire bottom of the hull with water!! In theory the leak/crack will become moist and start dripping. The concept sounds like it would work, but the idea of filling my hull like a bath tub is not so appealing...
Once the crack/leak is located what is the best/easiest way to patch, MarineTex?
Any better ideas before I turn my V into a coy pound!
As always, thanks for your help/advise ;D

C YENSEN · #3 04-03-2007, 10:32 AM

that is a tough one man. but if that is the only crack you can find, it has to be your problem. I would just fix that one, take her for a ride and see if you are still getting water in the bilge :-/

C YENSEN · #4 04-03-2007, 10:32 AM

that is a tough one man. but if that is the only crack you can find, it has to be your problem. I would just fix that one, take her for a ride and see if you are still getting water in the bilge :-/

Stillrunning · #5 04-03-2007, 11:10 AM

What is the size of the crack (hair line etc...) and how much water are we talking about (1 ,2, 3, gallons. For a crack to leak it would have to be cracked completly thru all the layers of fiberglass which I'd think would be very obvious. Many ways for water to enter the boat, waters already somewhere in the hull, leaking under the rub rail, thru hulls in splash well, etc... is the boat stored with the bow high enough to drain?

Stillrunning · #6 04-03-2007, 11:10 AM

What is the size of the crack (hair line etc...) and how much water are we talking about (1 ,2, 3, gallons. For a crack to leak it would have to be cracked completly thru all the layers of fiberglass which I'd think would be very obvious. Many ways for water to enter the boat, waters already somewhere in the hull, leaking under the rub rail, thru hulls in splash well, etc... is the boat stored with the bow high enough to drain?

Sean · #7 04-03-2007, 11:57 AM

It is a decent size crack, say about 4 inches long and a 1/2 inch thick and it is located just below the water line. In about a 6hr trip I would say about 3-5 gallons of water in the hull. The boat is stored bow high, and I even pull the plug before comming completely up the ramp to let it drain.
I was not to concerned last year as I trailer the boat, but I do have a opertunity to Pirate a morring this summer for a few days here and there and I would not want her to go down...

Sean · #8 04-03-2007, 11:57 AM

It is a decent size crack, say about 4 inches long and a 1/2 inch thick and it is located just below the water line. In about a 6hr trip I would say about 3-5 gallons of water in the hull. The boat is stored bow high, and I even pull the plug before comming completely up the ramp to let it drain.
I was not to concerned last year as I trailer the boat, but I do have a opertunity to Pirate a morring this summer for a few days here and there and I would not want her to go down...

willy · #9 04-03-2007, 12:47 PM

Sean something like this you have to literally make a check list and start a process of elimination.
1st determine each entrance exit you have for water on your boat. Check each one first, before doing any hull filling. Pay special attention to drain hoses, water pick up hoses, those draining your cockpit to thru hulls. Often times a cracked, dry rotted or loose fitting or hose leaks enough water to saturate or even fill the bildge during a day of fishing. Leaking live well and wash down valves hoses and connections have sunk boats sitting in the slip.
Often times you won't see a leak unless the water is under pressure as in the hull sitting in the water and the pressure against the outside of the hull, or a thru hull that is not deep enough to let water in until you are launched and have weight aboard.
2nd wait until the boat is sitting in the dark on a trailer and use a very strong light and stick it in every opening, inspection port thru hull area, suspected crack area and have someone look for the light from the outside. That one found a slow leak for me around a high speed pick up once where the bedding compound had dried and crumbled partly away.
3rd if all else fails do the water test, wait for the hull to dry in the sun or with a fan if indoors. Fill the bildge area with water after disconnecting the lead or somehow turning off the bildge pump.
You do not have to fill your whole boat, just put a lot into the under floor area with the boat tilted low on its trailer so that the water pressure is forward, if nothing tilt back so the weight pressure is to the rear of the hull.
4th If nothing comes of all this you can put plugs in each thru hull and see if the water still comes in.

9 times out of ten it is a malfunctioning thru hull valve connection or hose.
Good luck

willy · #10 04-03-2007, 12:47 PM

Sean something like this you have to literally make a check list and start a process of elimination.
1st determine each entrance exit you have for water on your boat. Check each one first, before doing any hull filling. Pay special attention to drain hoses, water pick up hoses, those draining your cockpit to thru hulls. Often times a cracked, dry rotted or loose fitting or hose leaks enough water to saturate or even fill the bildge during a day of fishing. Leaking live well and wash down valves hoses and connections have sunk boats sitting in the slip.
Often times you won't see a leak unless the water is under pressure as in the hull sitting in the water and the pressure against the outside of the hull, or a thru hull that is not deep enough to let water in until you are launched and have weight aboard.
2nd wait until the boat is sitting in the dark on a trailer and use a very strong light and stick it in every opening, inspection port thru hull area, suspected crack area and have someone look for the light from the outside. That one found a slow leak for me around a high speed pick up once where the bedding compound had dried and crumbled partly away.
3rd if all else fails do the water test, wait for the hull to dry in the sun or with a fan if indoors. Fill the bildge area with water after disconnecting the lead or somehow turning off the bildge pump.
You do not have to fill your whole boat, just put a lot into the under floor area with the boat tilted low on its trailer so that the water pressure is forward, if nothing tilt back so the weight pressure is to the rear of the hull.
4th If nothing comes of all this you can put plugs in each thru hull and see if the water still comes in.

9 times out of ten it is a malfunctioning thru hull valve connection or hose.
Good luck