Hello All! My Hunter 23.5 was hit by lightning causing about 6-7 small holes along water line on both sides of boat (spread out 2 ft from bow to 3 ft from stern). I don't know much about water ballast boats and don't know exactly where the water ballast tanks are located but am guessing they are slightly below water line(?). Would anyone know if the holes would be accessible from the inside of the boat? (the boat is presently located quite far away from me so I'm not able to look). If the holes are blocked by the water ballast tanks and aren't accessible from the inside, can they still be reliably repaired just from the outside? BTW, is the water ballast an actual "tank" with separate walls or is the bottom of the hull the same wall that forms the bottom of the ballast compartment?
Repairing lightning damage to Water Ballast Hunter 23.5
- Thread starter mrmike
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Dear Mr. Mike
You don't say how large the lightning holes are. I had a fiberglas boat struck by lightning resulting in several pin holes in the hull. The holes were easily filled with epoxy filler working from outside the hull.
My understanding is the ballast tank is simply the lower portion of the boat's hull a glassed in cover. That tank cover forms your boat's bilge. If the lightning went to ground through the ballast tank, and if the holes are as small as affected my boat, you'll have to closely inspect the outside of the hull for the telltale "starfish" pattern which the lightning etches in the gelcoat to be sure you found all the holes. I would include the inside of the centerboard trunk in that hole inspection.
What I don't know is whether the electricity while seeking ground, passed through the top of your ballast tank. I guess you'll find out when you next go sailing and later find water in your normally dry bilge. Because we have no access to that tank cover except in the limited areas under the main cabin settees I have no idea about locating and repairing holes if any, in the tank cover. If your lightning holes are as tiny as those on my former boat, the small amount of bilge water will simply be an inconvenience.
Good luck
Hugh
You don't say how large the lightning holes are. I had a fiberglas boat struck by lightning resulting in several pin holes in the hull. The holes were easily filled with epoxy filler working from outside the hull.
My understanding is the ballast tank is simply the lower portion of the boat's hull a glassed in cover. That tank cover forms your boat's bilge. If the lightning went to ground through the ballast tank, and if the holes are as small as affected my boat, you'll have to closely inspect the outside of the hull for the telltale "starfish" pattern which the lightning etches in the gelcoat to be sure you found all the holes. I would include the inside of the centerboard trunk in that hole inspection.
What I don't know is whether the electricity while seeking ground, passed through the top of your ballast tank. I guess you'll find out when you next go sailing and later find water in your normally dry bilge. Because we have no access to that tank cover except in the limited areas under the main cabin settees I have no idea about locating and repairing holes if any, in the tank cover. If your lightning holes are as tiny as those on my former boat, the small amount of bilge water will simply be an inconvenience.
Good luck
Hugh
I privately responded and alot depends on the actual damage and where it is located. If a hole in the hull and large of course, the easy way to fix is simply cut the affected area out and then angle the edge outward at least at 45% angles. Sand smooth the inside the hull adjacent to the hole. You will want to put a layer of glass on the inside and to do that, simply take a piece of cardboard or chicken wire with a string pulled thru it, then layer it with glass and resin and resin on the inside, shove it thru the hole and affix to the inside and hold the string until the resin kicks. Let it dry and that will give you a good base to start from. Starting with the first layer of glass make it as big as the holeand then the next cut larger to accomodate the size of the hole taking into account for the angled edges. Buy a resin roller made by seacoast from either this site or West Marine to smooth out the glass and getting rid of the air bubbles.
Let dry, sand and apply more glass. When done, I would spray paint a fine layer of black or gray and then sand to find the valleys and if any, reglass or add epoxy fillers. I used Water Tight which is about the strongest and takes longer to dry but is sandalbe and gives a good finished layer which to spray gel coat on.
When using the resin roller, always clean in acetone quite a lot so the resin does not dry and clog it. Just another technique I use to use in fixing boats.
crazy dave condon
Let dry, sand and apply more glass. When done, I would spray paint a fine layer of black or gray and then sand to find the valleys and if any, reglass or add epoxy fillers. I used Water Tight which is about the strongest and takes longer to dry but is sandalbe and gives a good finished layer which to spray gel coat on.
When using the resin roller, always clean in acetone quite a lot so the resin does not dry and clog it. Just another technique I use to use in fixing boats.
crazy dave condon
I have recieved a private email regarding this boat and have asked additional questions with photos before proceeding to answer any further as there is alot not known as yet. I use to be an investigator in my early years which is why I like to get to the heart of things before responding. I will keep you all posted on this.
crazy dave condon
crazy dave condon
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