craigimass
New Member
Hey all - owner of new Rocket (sunfish type) and also ancient Minifish.
The MF definitely gets some water into the hull. A one hour sail without any dunking (capsizing), etc. will see maybe 1 or 2 cups in there - yes, I installed one of the 6" clean out to the left of the dagger trunk so I can dry it out and get in there.
I had it dried out to about 85 lbs total....must be a little moisture in the foam.
But here is the question/comment. The hull holds air pressure nicely! When I got the boat I sealed the mast hole and the dagger slow just to be sure...with clear epoxy. At first I just blew into the air hole and noticed that it held that pressure. I could put my finger over the hole and 30 seconds later it would still have air when I let go. I tried the soap trick and no go anywhere.
And so, I hooked up a real air pump to the hole and put in about 5-7 pounds of pressure. At 7 lbs you could start to hear a few creaks in the boat hull so I cut it down closer to 4 lbs, which should have been plenty. I soaped everything - NO GO AGAIN. I removed the air pump and LOTS of air was being stored within the boat hull.
(only slight leak I found ever was a screw hole in the brass hook in front wall of cockpit)
This is an ancient MF - doesn't even have a bailer (which I like not having!).
Has anyone had leaks they were unable to find with high pressure and soap?
Let's assume I cannot find. Is there a relatively reasonable paint or other compound I can cover:
1. Rolled Edge - so I'd cover that seam underneath in case it leaks under load.
2. Cockpit - same, I'd paint or cover the area where I sit, etc. in case same - under load.
3. Last item might be to put another coat of something on the bottom - assuming good paints stop "less than pinhole" leaks.
Do any of the 303 type coatings seal microscopic holes?
It's probably going too far to try to soap test it under real load. I completely epoxied the inside of the mast hole right when I got it - that has to be good.
I'm stumped and I am not usually unable to solve mechanical things! It if comes to it I'll just have to rig up a fast dry system and put up with it - since I am never in the water for over 2 hours (boat is not wet - stored inside on trailer) - that might work with heated air.
The MF definitely gets some water into the hull. A one hour sail without any dunking (capsizing), etc. will see maybe 1 or 2 cups in there - yes, I installed one of the 6" clean out to the left of the dagger trunk so I can dry it out and get in there.
I had it dried out to about 85 lbs total....must be a little moisture in the foam.
But here is the question/comment. The hull holds air pressure nicely! When I got the boat I sealed the mast hole and the dagger slow just to be sure...with clear epoxy. At first I just blew into the air hole and noticed that it held that pressure. I could put my finger over the hole and 30 seconds later it would still have air when I let go. I tried the soap trick and no go anywhere.
And so, I hooked up a real air pump to the hole and put in about 5-7 pounds of pressure. At 7 lbs you could start to hear a few creaks in the boat hull so I cut it down closer to 4 lbs, which should have been plenty. I soaped everything - NO GO AGAIN. I removed the air pump and LOTS of air was being stored within the boat hull.
(only slight leak I found ever was a screw hole in the brass hook in front wall of cockpit)
This is an ancient MF - doesn't even have a bailer (which I like not having!).
Has anyone had leaks they were unable to find with high pressure and soap?
Let's assume I cannot find. Is there a relatively reasonable paint or other compound I can cover:
1. Rolled Edge - so I'd cover that seam underneath in case it leaks under load.
2. Cockpit - same, I'd paint or cover the area where I sit, etc. in case same - under load.
3. Last item might be to put another coat of something on the bottom - assuming good paints stop "less than pinhole" leaks.
Do any of the 303 type coatings seal microscopic holes?
It's probably going too far to try to soap test it under real load. I completely epoxied the inside of the mast hole right when I got it - that has to be good.
I'm stumped and I am not usually unable to solve mechanical things! It if comes to it I'll just have to rig up a fast dry system and put up with it - since I am never in the water for over 2 hours (boat is not wet - stored inside on trailer) - that might work with heated air.