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Leaks in a Sunfish

 

How can I find all the leaks in an old Sunfish?
 

Air-Pressure Leak Test:
Block-off the vent hole at the very top of the front of the Cockpit Tub. (Look under the Mainsheet Hook and you'll find it.)?
Make sure that any Inspection Ports are tightly-closed.?
Remove the Drain Plug and then use and air compressor or even a good Bicycle Tire Pump to "blow-up" the hull. Don't overdo it if you are using a compressor!
Go around the boat and brush on soapy-water in the Mast-Step, Centerboard Trunk, Bailer, Rudder Bracket, Bow Handle and every other place where there is a hole in the Hull or Deck. Any air that is escaping will cause soap bubbles at the leak.?
Be sure to check any cracks in the Cockpit Tub. Check out the black crack on the righthand side of this photo: I just did a friend's boat yesterday and found that this crack was letting in a LOT of water. ANY water is too much.?


On Friday, April 12, 2019, 3:55:04 PM EDT, Charles Butchart chollymon2002@... [sunfish_sailor] wrote:


?

How can I find all the leaks in an old Sunfish?
 

On Friday, April 12, 2019 05:27:16 PM Thomas Payne thomas3452@...
[sunfish_sailor] wrote:
Air-Pressure Leak Test:Block-off the vent hole at the very top of the
front of the Cockpit Tub. (Look under the Mainsheet Hook and you'll find
it.) Make sure that any Inspection Ports are tightly-closed. Remove the
Drain Plug and then use and air compressor or even a good Bicycle Tire
Pump to "blow-up" the hull.
Be very careful with an air compressor -- iirc, I've read on this list that
much over 2 psi can cause problems.

Don't overdo it if you are using a
compressor!Go around the boat and brush on soapy-water in the Mast-Step,
Centerboard Trunk, Bailer, Rudder Bracket, Bow Handle and every other
place where there is a hole in the Hull or Deck. Any air that is escaping
will cause soap bubbles at the leak. Be sure to check any cracks in the
Cockpit Tub. Check out the black crack on the righthand side of this
photo: I just did a friend's boat yesterday and found that this crack was
letting in a LOT of water. ANY water is too much.
 

AIr leak test.





That is our youtube page, use the search icon magnifying glass and search for "air leak"

Common spots for leaks are the daggerboard trunk, bailer seam and chine. Topside you might have water getting in through mast step, your can pour a cup of water in there and see if it disappears. Another common leak area is the seam on the older Sunfish with the metal trim.

Use low volume, low pressure air. Too much pressure can pop the seam or balloon the hull and detach the blocks. Soapy water in a spray bottle.

There are 33 plus designed holes in the Sunfish, plus the seam. Good luck!!

Kent and Audrey
 

Thanks!




On Friday, April 12, 2019, 5:27 PM, Thomas Payne thomas3452@... [sunfish_sailor] wrote:

?

Air-Pressure Leak Test:
Block-off the vent hole at the very top of the front of the Cockpit Tub. (Look under the Mainsheet Hook and you'll find it.)?
Make sure that any Inspection Ports are tightly-closed.?
Remove the Drain Plug and then use and air compressor or even a good Bicycle Tire Pump to "blow-up" the hull. Don't overdo it if you are using a compressor!
Go around the boat and brush on soapy-water in the Mast-Step, Centerboard Trunk, Bailer, Rudder Bracket, Bow Handle and every other place where there is a hole in the Hull or Deck. Any air that is escaping will cause soap bubbles at the leak.?
Be sure to check any cracks in the Cockpit Tub. Check out the black crack on the righthand side of this photo: I just did a friend's boat yesterday and found that this crack was letting in a LOT of water. ANY water is too much.?


On Friday, April 12, 2019, 3:55:04 PM EDT, Charles Butchart chollymon2002@... [sunfish_sailor] wrote:


?

How can I find all the leaks in an old Sunfish?
 

Thanks (I think!)




On Friday, April 12, 2019, 6:28 PM, lewis.kent@... [sunfish_sailor] wrote:

?

AIr leak test.






That is our youtube page, use the search icon magnifying glass and search for "air leak"

Common spots for leaks are the daggerboard trunk, bailer seam and chine. Topside you might have water getting in through mast step, your can pour a cup of water in there and see if it disappears. Another common leak area is the seam on the older Sunfish with the metal trim.

Use low volume, low pressure air. Too much pressure can pop the seam or balloon the hull and detach the blocks. Soapy water in a spray bottle.

There are 33 plus designed holes in the Sunfish, plus the seam. Good luck!!

Kent and Audrey
 

You're welcome. Have fun playing with bubbles.

Cheers
Clark and Skipper
 

Speaking of the hole on the forward wall of the cockpit, that is indeed a vent hole, it keeps the pontoon hull from overpressurizing on a warm day, which could pop a seam and/or detach the foam block inside. Don't plug it up (except for a leak test). Also don't let the cockpit fill with water while boat is in storage, water will get into the hull and soak into the foam.

Check along the metal edge trim real well, especially up front where folks ram docks.

Cheers
Clark and Skipper
 

I meant to say sail it and then see where the water runs out when she's back ashore :) That's how we found a leak on one of our boats. She had a soft spot on the keel that we didn't notice, trailer roller damage. We fixed? that up with some MarineTex epoxy putty.

Cheers
Clark and Skipper
 

For air pressure, I got a low price 12 volt blower looks like a miniature hair dryer with cone shaped blower nozzle fits tightly in drain hole from Walmart made for inflating camping air mattresses, works perfect

Sent from my Verizon Motorola Droid
 

And left cockpit vent hole open to not over pressurise

Sent from my Verizon Motorola Droid
 

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If you have a shop vac, you might be able to attach the hose to the outlet vent and put the other end of the hose into an inspection port.
 

Our battery powered Porter Cable wet/dry vac works great. Also nice for clean up after sailing.
 

Lots of detergent in your soapy water. Bucket with a sponge.

Slop it all over. Wait patiently. Have a grease pencil so you can mark the spots that are leaking.

Any Sunfish can be saved ...

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