searching for a leak and needing advice

[LloydB]

As I understand it you have taken the boat out of the water and the leaking bow water tank is no longer leaking through the hull. You then asked a professional to look at it and assess the damage and repair needed. I ask only because that damage looks like it came from hitting a rock rather than an anchor swinging into the hull and the damage could extend well beyond the point of impact.

 

[Tally Ho]

Yes, you should probably bite the bullet, pull the tank, and do it right. Sucks, but better than sinking your boat.

Greg

 

[JamieB]

Edit: I got to my laptop and was able to edit this post

It is easier from the inside but you can do a pro job form the outside. First grind out the crack until you have undamaged cloth … then fair out the grind about 1:4 or 1:6. For example if your grind is 2 cm deep, then fair out the hole to 8 or 12 cm. You will need to glue in a backing plate. See the first few pics. I made the backing plate by laying a pice of plastic film over the hole and tracing out the hole with a sharpie. I then cut the plastice with a lip about 1/4" outside the line. I then used that plastic piece to cut six patches of fiberglass cloth with that shape and wetted them with epoxy resin stacked them and let the set. I then glued the backing plate it in place with J B Weld marine.
View attachment 201289View attachment 201290View attachment 201291
View attachment 201293

I held the packing plate in place by drilling two small holes and threading a piece of dental floss through the holes. Dental floss is made of dacron. I then smeared the plate with the JB Weld and pulled the plate taught against the inside of the hull with the dental floss and let the JB set.

View attachment 201292 View attachment 201294


Then I set and lay in successively larger pieces of cloth until the hole is filled in. Fair and paint. In the pic below, you can see me peeling off a piece of velum. I wetted 6 layers of cloth, each a little larger than the previous... then layed them all in the hole at once. Taped the velum over the patch to hold it in place while the epoxy set. When I peeled off the velum, I had a nice smooth surface so.... minimal fairing needed.

View attachment 201295 View attachment 201296
I’ve done this type of repair a few times and there are some tricks to make it easier. If you want to go this route we can schedule a phone call. This fix will take you to half days. The reason it takes two is you need to let the epoxy set inbetween steps.

this is absolutely amazing. thank you so so so much. yeah a call would be unbelievable when ever you have time just to run through before I start.

that's smart about the backing plate.

 

[JamieB]

As I understand it you have taken the boat out of the water and the leaking bow water tank is no longer leaking through the hull. You then asked a professional to look at it and assess the damage and repair needed. I ask only because that damage looks like it came from hitting a rock rather than an anchor swinging into the hull and the damage could extend well beyond the point of impact.

yeah I've been on the boat the whole time and we've never come close to hitting a rock. I think it's the anchor but agreed will have a professional look at it to make sure.