Finding cabin leaks with pressure?
- Thread starter azambella
- Start date
Yeah, @Crazy Dave Condon would advise sealing up everywhere with plastic, then blowing into the sealed up structure with some kind of air mover.
Maybe he'll chime in.
In my industry we do blower door testing on houses and buildings and duct testing on HVAC ductwork. I am sure you could same thing on a sailboat.
It is going to be pricey, I would guess $1250 to $2000 per day.
Residential Duct Leakage Test overview
Blower Door Testing
To purchase the equipment and start your own side business that will run you $5000 to $8000
Retrotec Blower Door Test Equipment | Duct Testing Equipment
I travel if the price and perks are right.
It is going to be pricey, I would guess $1250 to $2000 per day.
Residential Duct Leakage Test overview
Blower Door Testing
To purchase the equipment and start your own side business that will run you $5000 to $8000
Retrotec Blower Door Test Equipment | Duct Testing Equipment
I travel if the price and perks are right.
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Seal the companionway with a piece of plastic with a hole in it to accept the nozzle of a leaf blower. Have a friend apply soapy water around the areas where you suspect a leak. You'll see bubbles where the leaks are.
Question was "Has anyone pressured up the cabin to find deck leaks? how did this go? "
Short answer is "Yes"
I have been wrestling at least one (likely more) cabin leaks on Hunter 376.
After picking the brains of my dockmates and swarthy veterans, went about trying to seal and pressurize the cabin to locate the leak.
The theory sounded plausible.
I bought rolls of paint tarp with factory masking tape edge. Shop vac, hoses, liquid soap, atomizer.
"how did this go?": badly
I burned at least two days and learned absolutely nothing. I remember it took hours and hours to seal the companionway. Then awkwardly climbed out the foredeck hatch for the first time.
Out of frustration, I divided the boat into thirds at the bulkheads and was eager to perform a proof of concept. By then, I just wanted to validate if the method had any merit. My optimistic imagination, played a video with a lively
stream of soap bubble broadcasting a corroded canvas snap. Hah. Field of dreams.
Even the section with the least number of penetrations and logically, easiest to seal, still did not provide any useful information.
Perhaps it might be possible to seal a really simple day sailor. That is, a boat that does not feature a head liner, and maybe only a single hatch.
On my cruising boat, there were just too many pathways.
Short answer is "Yes"
I have been wrestling at least one (likely more) cabin leaks on Hunter 376.
After picking the brains of my dockmates and swarthy veterans, went about trying to seal and pressurize the cabin to locate the leak.
The theory sounded plausible.
I bought rolls of paint tarp with factory masking tape edge. Shop vac, hoses, liquid soap, atomizer.
"how did this go?": badly
I burned at least two days and learned absolutely nothing. I remember it took hours and hours to seal the companionway. Then awkwardly climbed out the foredeck hatch for the first time.
Out of frustration, I divided the boat into thirds at the bulkheads and was eager to perform a proof of concept. By then, I just wanted to validate if the method had any merit. My optimistic imagination, played a video with a lively
stream of soap bubble broadcasting a corroded canvas snap. Hah. Field of dreams.
Even the section with the least number of penetrations and logically, easiest to seal, still did not provide any useful information.
Perhaps it might be possible to seal a really simple day sailor. That is, a boat that does not feature a head liner, and maybe only a single hatch.
On my cruising boat, there were just too many pathways.
This worked Awesome!!!!!!!!!
I pressure up'd the cabin with my leaf blower and washed the boat down with dishwashing soap.
Bubbles popped in quite a few places I would not have seen otherwise.
I give this method an A++++++++++
Is was super easy to do.
Thanks all
I pressure up'd the cabin with my leaf blower and washed the boat down with dishwashing soap.
Bubbles popped in quite a few places I would not have seen otherwise.
I give this method an A++++++++++
Is was super easy to do.
Thanks all
Any specific methods you used, or pics of the process? I really want to do this, but not sure how to seal up the hatch and get air inside.
Seal the companionway with a piece of plastic with a hole in it to accept the nozzle of a leaf blower.
I have solar vents on the cabin top and my Leaf blower fit snug in the opening.
I did not seal anything. I just put on HI and soaped up the deck.
If it was any easier, it would have done it by it' self.
I did use a grease pen to mark the leaks
I will take pics next time i am up there....
I did not seal anything. I just put on HI and soaped up the deck.
If it was any easier, it would have done it by it' self.
I did use a grease pen to mark the leaks
I will take pics next time i am up there....