Slooow Leak

EmergencyExit · Post by **EmergencyExit** » Tue Jun 01, 2010 11:52 am

Aw man, can't see the pics at work, and going by the lake on my way home - will have a look at home later tonight

skyking · Post by **skyking** » Tue Jun 01, 2010 4:16 pm

Hey Al,

I had a similar issue last year with a little PIA leak that i didnt want to pull the boat out just to repair. I found some pool & hot tub repair putty, that works under water. its two parts that you cut a chunk of equal sizes off and kneed them togather until the color is uniform and then work it into place..

Its called Pool putty resin and its made by Atlas Minerals & Resins in Pennsylvania..

I keep it on on board just in case ..

you should be able to find it at you local pool supply dealer...

Good luck

Tim

sauerleigh · Post by **sauerleigh** » Tue Jun 01, 2010 4:42 pm

It almost looks as though the water is wicking its way down from the thru-hull for the winch cable, possibly even from the hose. The trunk side is about 1/4" fiberglass with 3/4" plywood bonded to the inside.

al the pal · Post by **al the pal** » Tue Jun 01, 2010 4:47 pm

It is definately "expressing" itself right on the port side away from the thru-hull for the cable. I can dry it with a towel and watch it come back right at that wet spot.

I knew there had to be some solution to get me through the summer... thanks skyking! So you just smeared a layer of it on after mixing it to the proper consistency?

skyking · Post by **skyking** » Tue Jun 01, 2010 5:08 pm

I actually found it easier to work with once it got a little damp from the moisture coming in..It was easier to smear it into place with my hands...after sitting on there all winter long, I removed it fairly easy this spring...

EmergencyExit · Post by **EmergencyExit** » Tue Jun 01, 2010 5:29 pm

sauerleigh wrote:It almost looks as though the water is wicking its way down from the thru-hull for the winch cable, possibly even from the hose. The trunk side is about 1/4" fiberglass with 3/4" plywood bonded to the inside.

Ditto from EE.

al the pal · Post by **al the pal** » Wed Jun 02, 2010 5:53 am

Alanhod · Post by **Alanhod** » Wed Jun 02, 2010 5:11 pm

Banshi · Post by **Banshi** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 5:49 am

Lengthening the hose will stop the leak if you have the room vertically to do it.

Capt. Bondo · Post by **Capt. Bondo** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 8:36 am

I have picked up some marine epoxy at Fleet farm that clams it will set underwater.
Sometime when your at anchor with the keel in all the way down and cable is loose, put on your mask and fins and inspect of the cable has started chafing the hull at the through hull

Banshi · Post by **Banshi** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 11:09 am

Good point if the wire/cable has cut through the thru hull then it could create a really weird leak. Time to replace it, last thing you want is water penetrating into the fiberglass structure and rotting it inside out.

Alanhod · Post by **Alanhod** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 4:29 pm

Banshi wrote:Lengthening the hose will stop the leak if you have the room vertically to do it.

The keel cable hose is already right up against the pulley so it can't really go any longer. I'm thinking some cork arraignment might work...or 70 lbs off the captains mid section.

Thanks
Alan

sauerleigh · Post by **sauerleigh** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 6:38 pm

Not wanting to wait until I had my boat hoisted to check the swing keel cable and hardware I decided to cut through the top of the trunk at the through hull fitting. The outside sealant came off very easily and the surface had not been cleaned very well before the newer sealant was applied. There is a rubber washer, then an "O" ring and some other type of sealant applied to the threads, then this was covered with about 1/4" of sealant applied around the through hull, inside the boat. I have no way of knowing if the area leaked, but closer inspection of the fiberglass layup shows a outside layer of gelcoat and a layer of fiberglass about 1/8" thick. Two subsequent layers of fiberglass were added later in construction and there are some voids between these layers which may lead to the hole for the through hull fitting. If the outside seal is faulty, water could migrate into the voids and come out who knows were. If your boat is in a freeze area, the problem could become worse with time.
BTY, the cable is bad, the thimble had cracked at some time, the shackle is OK. I made a few tools to remove the shackle pin, needle nose pliers did the rest. I can reinstall everything from inside the boat and bond the cut section with some Gel Magic.
photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/93952888@N00/

EmergencyExit · Post by **EmergencyExit** » Fri Jun 04, 2010 2:15 am

Al, this may just be the angle the photos were taken from but in the top photo it look like the thru hull is leaning back at an angle (compared to the tube and the trunk) with some sealant in the front. If I recall right EE's is completely vertical and flush.

Also in the second pic the area right in front of the thru hull looks a bit darker, possibly wet under there ?

Might indicate a leak there due to a bad seal at the thru hull. Again it might just be the angle of the shots