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I just finished a Shearwater 17 Hybrid and have had it out 4 or 5 times. I have noticed about a half a cup of water in the bottom of the boat when finished. I assumed it was water from my wet water shoes. I then went without shoes one day, and still had a little water in the boat! The water is not from spray or paddle drips. I added a retractable skeg box when building the boat, and did notice a few air bubbles in the seams along the shear lines. I have no deck rigging or deck hatches. I have waterproof inspection hatches on both bulkheads. I used all the fiberglass, expoxy, and 3 coats of varnish. It really should NOT be leaking, but it looks like it is!!
Any good ideas about finding this small leak? Fill the boat with water and watch where it leaks out? Flashlight on the inside in a dark garage? Some of the joints are transparent... clear expoxy letting light shine through, but still a tight joint. What did I do wrong? Easy fix with fiberglass tape on the inside of joint?
Thanks!
2 replies:
RE: Leaky Boat!!
i just finished a petrel with my daughter
and we had leaks at the hull/deck joint
under the seam of fiberglass.
i took a 10cc syringe and 18 gauge needle
and injected epoxy at the leaky spots...
and then cut a 3 inch strip of glass in half
and ran it along the seam on each side...
...maybe a bit unconventional but it worked great!
anyone else out there try this technique??
RE: Leaky Boat!!
» Submitted by Laszlo - Tue, 8/12/08 » 6:23 AM
Yakker,
Filling the boat and looking for drips makes the most sense for me. Just be sure that it's well supported.
On the other hand, 1/2 a cup of water doesn't seem that much and is in the reasonable amount for coming in over the top. The boats at Okuomefest usuall have a good several cups of water in them. I know that you say that it's not spray, drips, wet feet, etc., but how are you guaranteeing that (especially when you're getting into the boat from the beach)?
Is the water in the cockpit or the other side of the bulkheads?
The good news is that if there is a leak it'll be real easy to fix. Maybe a little epoxy/woodflour putty and then the fiberglass tape, as you said.
Good luck,
Laszlo