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Temporary leak stop

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dwoodski1119
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Temporary leak stop

Post by dwoodski1119 » Fri Apr 01, 2011 7:55 am

I have a slow leak through the hull(double plank mahogany) and need to buy some time before I pull the boat out to get it repaired, I have heard of a swellable rope-type caulking or sealant that will provide for a temporary fix. Anyone know of a brand or where I can find this?

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lnewcom2
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Post by lnewcom2 » Fri Apr 01, 2011 8:38 am

Have you tried stuffing cotton?
Regards,

Lee Newcombe
1962 36' Constellation
"Family Tree"

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Captain Nemo
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Leak

Post by Captain Nemo » Fri Apr 01, 2011 1:07 pm

Hi,
You can use Boatlife caulk. It's a poly-sulfide which will cure under water. The trick is to find out where the leak is in a double plank hull. The water can travel quite a ways between the two layers b/4 it comes in.
-Mark
Boats are to be made of wood, otherwise, God would have grown fiberglass trees.

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drrot
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Post by drrot » Fri Apr 01, 2011 2:50 pm

Slick Seam works good. It has a wax like consistency. You push it in the seams with your fingers. Stays soft and is not permanent.
Jim Staib
www.finewoodboats.com


1947 Penn Yan 12' Cartopper WXH474611
1950 Chris-Craft 22' Sportsman U-22-1532
1957 Chris-Craft 26' Sea Skiff SK-26-515
1968 Century 17' Resorter FG-68-174

drginseng
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Re: Temporary leak stop

Post by drginseng » Sat Aug 16, 2014 10:17 am

Get a coffee can on the end of a stick. Get some boat wood sawdust from a boat yard. Put it in the can and quickly turn it over where "you think" it may be going in. Keep shaking it as it comes out slowly. It will find its way into the leak.

jfrprops
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Re: Temporary leak stop

Post by jfrprops » Mon Aug 18, 2014 8:25 am

the posts above cover just about all of your options....and clearly as one mentions it is difficult on double planked bottoms to determine exactly where the leak is as it can/does run between layers. I would go with cotton...works great short term

John in Va.
1980 Fairchild Scout 30
19?? custom Argentine Runabout 16'
1954 Whirlwind deluxe dual ckpt 16'
1921 Old Town Charles River 17' (founding Captain, James River Batteau Festival)

jahearne
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Re: Temporary leak stop

Post by jahearne » Mon Sep 01, 2014 8:27 pm

Splash Zone works extremely well if you have a serious leak and need to buy time. It's a two part epoxy putty that cures underwater. Dries hard, sandable and drillable.
John & Wendy

drginseng
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Re: Temporary leak stop

Post by drginseng » Mon Sep 01, 2014 11:30 pm

Splash Zone is good. I had a surveyor tell me to put it on the inside. That's crazy.

jfrprops
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Re: Temporary leak stop

Post by jfrprops » Tue Sep 02, 2014 8:45 am

I don't think that is crazy. If you are taking on water stopping it is the main issue no matter what or how. In salt water, like my boat, I would not worry too much about water intrusion of the wood....??/ Boatlife works the same way and is likely less hard and permanent??
imho

John in Va.
1980 Fairchild Scout 30
19?? custom Argentine Runabout 16'
1954 Whirlwind deluxe dual ckpt 16'
1921 Old Town Charles River 17' (founding Captain, James River Batteau Festival)

drginseng
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Re: Temporary leak stop

Post by drginseng » Wed Sep 03, 2014 12:25 am

Except he wasn't talking about an emergency. The leak is not that fast. Bilge on every three days. Leaking from the chine. By doing that until my next haul I'm possibly forcing the water another direction in the structure. I don't know. But yes, great emergency fix anyways. What do think about folks that salt their bilge in fresh water?

jfrprops
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Re: Temporary leak stop

Post by jfrprops » Wed Sep 03, 2014 8:35 am

I can't identify with one so lucky as to be pumping every three days when I am happy enough to be pumping every three hours!

Putting salt in the bilge water: I think that is sort of like grandma's chicken soup...."it couldn't hurt".

ranks ahead of red pepper in the bottom paint and stuff like that.

John in Va.
1980 Fairchild Scout 30
19?? custom Argentine Runabout 16'
1954 Whirlwind deluxe dual ckpt 16'
1921 Old Town Charles River 17' (founding Captain, James River Batteau Festival)

drginseng
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Re: Temporary leak stop

Post by drginseng » Wed Sep 03, 2014 10:56 am

I forgot you were the one pumping that often, John. I will count my blessings. Have you ever seen a dry Connie? I have not heard of the red pepper. Is that to assist with salt water critters?

jfrprops
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Re: Temporary leak stop

Post by jfrprops » Wed Sep 03, 2014 1:40 pm

cayenne (spelling?) pepper...old salt water guys would mix a big can of it in with bottom paint and paint the props with it....said it cut down on slime, barnacles but led to sneezing fits...lol....

John in Va.
1980 Fairchild Scout 30
19?? custom Argentine Runabout 16'
1954 Whirlwind deluxe dual ckpt 16'
1921 Old Town Charles River 17' (founding Captain, James River Batteau Festival)

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evansjw44
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Re: Temporary leak stop

Post by evansjw44 » Wed Sep 03, 2014 4:08 pm

So, John, is that like K'jun spice or Old Bay? Do the crabs just crawl in and like tha bath they just plug the leak with thier hulks?
Jim Evans

jfrprops
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Re: Temporary leak stop

Post by jfrprops » Wed Sep 03, 2014 4:16 pm

no Jim,...with their poop!
1980 Fairchild Scout 30
19?? custom Argentine Runabout 16'
1954 Whirlwind deluxe dual ckpt 16'
1921 Old Town Charles River 17' (founding Captain, James River Batteau Festival)

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