Hobie Cat Forums

Can anyone help me out, I had 10 litres of water in the hull yesterday, and however hard I look I just cannot find where its getting in.

I noticed water was getting in the hull a few months ago, I rang my dealer who insisted the twist hatches were leaking , yesterday it was flat calm, I've messed about the hatches and I'm sure they are dry, so it rules that one out [maybe] and as far as I can tell [drip test] I have no holes in the hull.

Can you guys suggest other places to look please, or ways of trying to find the leak....

Cheers

Roller

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Every day is an Adventure Island day

Check very carefully around the forward drivewell ledge and the white plastic button underneath. A crack there is hard to see but it opens under pressure when pedaling.
Using a vacuum cleaner with a hose that can be swapped to the exhaust is the best way to check for leaks. Jam it into the drain hole and check with a soapy water solution sprayed all over the hull (but start around the drivewell first)

I put a watertight Bulkhead just aft of the mast on my 2011 AI. Now the only place I get water is in the bow???

I tried spraying water against the hatch, no water in the boat. Yet when I go out I get 4 inches in the bow. This last time I duct taped the hatch. 4 inches of water in the bow. Checked the threaded cups and they look intact. Can't see where the water is getting in.

The aft parts gets very little water. Mainly when I open the twist hatch underway. The mast does look like it has plugs under the hull. Need to figure this out. Can not afford that kind of weight in the bow on a long distance race...

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Paul
DogsLife
2011 Adventure Island (Little Dog)
2010 Tandem Island (Big Dog: "We keep a leg up on the competition")
2001 Wilderness Systems Woodsman Kayak 14.5 (Blue Dog)

http://dogslifeadventures.blogspot.com/

Dog,

You're getting this water in flat conditions? Or are you sailing in large swells and getting soaked in the cockpit?

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It's a good Life, Let's sail!

iHop

Dune TI - 6/4/2011
Camas, WA

Hi guys thanks for your reply's i'm about to do the soapy water test

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Every day is an Adventure Island day

Ok found one crack where the seat plugs in 10 mm long ish [furthest back starboard side] and the front large hatch doesn't seal, mainly due to bungees not tight enough, also lots of little soap bubbles coming from mast area, especially close to the clip......

I soaped the hull and used my compressor to pressurize the hull, the hose was pushed into drain hole.

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Every day is an Adventure Island day

I get much more water in rough conditions. But, even when it is calm I get some water in the front. The bulkhead has helped me narrow the problem to the front area. Never thought about checking around the mast collar. I will try a air test. I have to figure out how to put air on the bow with a bulkhead installed. Maybe remove one of the screws from the turning block and go in with a small tubing. Not this weekend, have to take my son to College...

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Paul
DogsLife
2011 Adventure Island (Little Dog)
2010 Tandem Island (Big Dog: "We keep a leg up on the competition")
2001 Wilderness Systems Woodsman Kayak 14.5 (Blue Dog)

http://dogslifeadventures.blogspot.com/

My AI is under 2 years old I wonder if this crack comes under warranty?

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Every day is an Adventure Island day

Contact your dealer.

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http://KayakingBob.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2007, 2009 & 2010 Hobie AIs and a 2010 TI

Very low pressure I hope!

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Matt Miller
Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Hobie Cat USA

Matt, if it's an AI or TI, the excess air just comes out of the bungeed front hatch.

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http://KayakingBob.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2007, 2009 & 2010 Hobie AIs and a 2010 TI

I still worry... never know what people might try when they read stuff.

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Matt Miller
Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Hobie Cat USA

Yep, a air compressor is a little over-kill for a leak test.

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http://KayakingBob.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2007, 2009 & 2010 Hobie AIs and a 2010 TI

yes very low

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Every day is an Adventure Island day

There is also a foam gasket between the mast receiver base and the hull. It might be misaligned or torn. Lots of water can end up there while sailing and could be a source of leaks. Try the soap test all around all those screws where the mast receiver is connected to the hull.


P1040704.jpg by PhotoByMark, on Flickr


P1040702.jpg by PhotoByMark, on Flickr

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I'd rather be sailing,
Mark.