troublesome leak

I have an older hobie who's hulls are in great shape...but...I've noticed my port hull seems to take on a little water--and after a evening of heavy air (last night!) I poured about 3-4 cups out! The starboard hull is the only hull with an inspection port, and it's dry. I've gone over it from every angle and can't find the leak. Could it be in the mounting hardware for the rudder blades? The two posts that support the tramp frame look sound and sealed where they enter the hulls. But, on the back of each post is a vertical "slot" that rises from the top of the hull to the aluminum corner housing. In my memory, its about 5-6 in long. I guess my question is: what is down there? Can water get inside via the post or is there a plug of some sort? Perhaps the sleeve is like the mast step on my Laser-a solid sleeve that goes clean through to the bottom of the hull. Can I put an air compressor tip to the drain plug and give the hull the water and bubble tire treatment?

Certainly do the bubble test (not too much pressure you know!)

Notice the pylons are a similar AL extrusion as the crossbars, that slot is continuous and should be filled with sealant, at least where it enters the deck.

If you cant find a leak (check the deck to hull seams) try resealing the drain plug.

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For re-glueing/sealing on my Laser, I've been using West System Epoxy. Is that the right stuff for the duty of fixing drain plug assembly as well as the brackets that mount the rudder to the stern?

Bones..Don't put an airhose in the drain plug (or even a shopvac discharge hose) without being very careful..You could blow (separate) the seam on the hull. Only blow enough air into the hull to raise the PSI a very little. To check for a leak using a spray bottle with soapy water might be done best with two people. Have one person blow just enough air into the drain plug hole to get some "blowback" when you pull the blower away. Then either put the plug in the hole or cover it with your hand, while the other sprays the water. I would recommend spraying every inch of the hull, even the textured non-skid. I checked a Tiger doing this awhile back, and found the deck was full of very small holes...(gotta love the French). Also, if you can, roll the boat over and repeat the process again. You may be surprised where you can find leaks. They could very well be at the gudgeon bolt holes, or even from inside the castings if the foam plug inside the pylon has deteriorated. Good luck!

For real, a few cups? I wouldn't even worry about this. I have owned my 84 boat for 6 years or so and sailing on lake Michigan and Medota a large lake in Madison. I was never concerned with a few cups. From everything I have heard, this is perfectly reasonable, especially for my 24 year old boat! I am a little concerned that one hull currently stays pretty dry but the other must have had at least a gallon in it. This was kinda ridiculous. I am betting it was the drain plugs, rudder gudgeon or something like that as I replaced a gudgeon last year and have been taking on water since. Either way though, the damn thing still floats so I am not super stressed. If I can find an air compressor I could probably try the air test but I will be trying the reseal first. Most of my through hull fittings appeared to be poorly sealed after 24 years.


i am not a pro at this knowledge but from what I've heard don't blow your time on it until you start getting a bunch of water in there.

Sail on

I plugged a vicious leak from my drain plugs. I unscrewed the plugs, scraped off the old silicone and, at the recommendation of a fellow sailor, used Life Calk, by BoatLIFE, to re-seal the plugs. Now the hulls are dry like a bone. At least this is one thing you could check.

Agreed, 3 to 4 cups after a day of heavy air is nothing.

However, if you do end up doing a pressure test, you don't need a shop vac or an air compressor (in fact I would not use a compressor). In the past, I've used a 6 inch piece of rubber tubing with some duct tape wrapped around the outside of one end, so it fits tightly in the drain plug opening. Stick the tube in and give about 10 good lung-fulls of air, pop it out, stick the plug in and start spraying soapy water.

sm

3 or 4 cups is nothing to us, but bones is a Laser sailor. From dinghy days, not uncommon for these guys to spend hours searching for that one pinhole.
A rubber cork, ball needle and bicycle air pump is standard equipment in their kit.

For sealing drain plugs, as serious as I would get is 3M 4200. These boats are dry sailed, anything more, especially a resin, is overkill (may need to remove in the future?).

If you're replacing the plugs, I like the Ronstan, with metal housing and square cut threads.

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Wonderful information guys. I won't sweat the 3-5 cups that find their way in after a heavy sail. Let me clarify one thing...I haven't sold my laser just yet as they are pretty fun zip around in a fleet...that said-they don't hold a candle to the pure thrill of trapeze and a broad reach with a light windward hull. From my first high speed Hobie ride, I was sold and it seems to be all I can think about, day and night! I was out as soon as the ice melted and I will be out when the first snow flakes fly. Its a short sailing season here in Montana but the skiing is great! That's what I compare fast cat to...it's just like powder skiing!

I get a half gallon or so in my port hull after an hour or so on the water... I haven't worried too much about it, I just make sure to drain it when back on the dock. Before I do any long sails, I probably should do some sealing.