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 Post subject: Leaky Hull
PostPosted: Wed Aug 24, 2005 10:03 am 
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Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Tue Aug 23, 2005 9:09 am
Posts: 91
Location: UK
One of my hulls is leaking badly and gets ful of water everytime i go out.
Does anyone know where it is most likely to be leaking from


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 Post subject: leaky hulls
PostPosted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 12:06 am 
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Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Wed Nov 10, 2004 9:06 am
Posts: 3
Put your boat on a trailer and tap water into the hulls. Don't fill too much. insert drainplugs, dry the outside and bottem of the hulls. wait a few minutes and inspect bottem and drainplug area. You should now be able to see or notice where the water drips (leaks).


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 4:11 am 
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Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2005 10:43 am
Posts: 779
Location: St. Louis, MO
There is a much more effective way to check where you hull leaks. Also adding more water to the inside of your hulls kind of goes against the point of keeping them as dry a possible.

If you have any inspection ports, put the lid in those. Then get a bucket of soapy water. Get your vaccuum cleaner or other low pressure air source. If using a vac set it from suck to blow. Have a friend/relative/passer by hold the hose an inch or so away from teh open drain plug. Now, you walk around the hull and apply the soapy water to all areas you think might leak. If it does leak then you will see the bubbles.

Try places like:
1)around the pylons
2)the hull to deck seam
3)anywhere else you have a through hole in the hull.

You also may want to check the drainplug itself. Make sure there is a rubber O-ring on the plug. Also, if you cannot find a source for the leak(s) take the drain plug housing off the transom and reinstall making sure it is well sealed when you screw it back in place.

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Nick

Current Boat
In the market
Previous boats owned
'74 Pearson 30
'84 H16
'82 H18 Magnum
St. Louis, MO


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 Post subject: Leak check FAQ
PostPosted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 3:02 pm 
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Joined: Tue May 27, 2003 12:44 pm
Posts: 15026
Location: Oceanside, California
Leak check FAQ:

http://www.hobiecat.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=169

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Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)


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PostPosted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 11:48 pm 
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Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Sun Jul 10, 2005 1:15 am
Posts: 11
I hear a puff of air when removing a drain plug from the right hull, it's like the air inside the hull has a lower pressure than the air outside. And inside the hull there is a leak of water even after a few minutes sailing, i think it works as a pump, sucking water from outside.
How can i make the hull breathe, i cleaned the vents with a metal wire and they seem to be free from garbage.


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Sep 05, 2005 6:40 am 
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Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2005 10:43 am
Posts: 779
Location: St. Louis, MO
If you hear a puff of air, then it is unlikely that yoru right hull is leaking. That puff comes from teh pressure differential between the air in your hull and the atmosphere. Usually happens after being on the water all day which keeps the hulls cooler than the air around the boat.

You are saying that even with a hull that is able to keep seal out higher pressure air that water is still being found inside the hull?

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Nick

Current Boat
In the market
Previous boats owned
'74 Pearson 30
'84 H16
'82 H18 Magnum
St. Louis, MO


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 Post subject: Puff
PostPosted: Mon Sep 05, 2005 8:21 am 
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Joined: Tue May 27, 2003 12:44 pm
Posts: 15026
Location: Oceanside, California
Puff of exhale is better than a puff inhale...

If the hells are hot when you insert the plud and then you place the boat in cold water... the air contracts and creates a vacuum. Any leak can suck water in.

If the vents are plugged, you may have to remove the foam plug and see why the vent does not pass air inside the pylon to the inner hull.

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Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Sep 06, 2005 7:24 am 
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Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Mon Jun 02, 2003 6:19 pm
Posts: 144
Location: Florida Panhandle
The first thing I do is replace the plastic drain plug housings with the metal type. If you over tighten the plastic housings, they expand and leak. I also silicone around all pylons. Next, I turn the boat over and seal all areas with gaps on the joint seams. If there are cracks in the gelcoat in the lip, I re-gelcoat them. Everything that goes into the hulls gets re-sealed with new silicone. My boats don't leak!

Bob :wink:

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Bob Curry
Master Unirig Sailor


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Sep 07, 2005 6:14 am 
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Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Sun Jul 10, 2005 1:15 am
Posts: 11
i did everithing bob said, silicone everywhere, expecially around the joints, but in this way how can the hulls breathe? i thought there must be a way the pressure inside and outside can compensate and maybe sealing is not suggested. isn't it better to have a little leak than pressure difference which can crack the hulls?


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