Thanks. Is that the tiny hole near top of fore section of cockpit? If so, I doubt it is the problem since as boat filled with water it tilted back on dolly, leaving that hole above water line.Water can enter from the cockpit through the little vent hole...
Thanks. I wondered about that; I looked in that space thinking that would be the problem area but not surprisingly, saw nothing with naked eye. ( I assume the lake test you mean is the "air test", right?)If the cockpit filled with ice, a large gap could have been forced open at the cockpit/deck interface (the underside of the deck, where it meets the cockpit). To run the leak test, you can use the drain you installed in the transom.
View attachment 17239
You could do a "lake test" on land, by tipping the Sunfish over, using the mast as a prop. Water poured into a cockpit should not leak away into the inner hull. If it does, you've found one leak.Thanks. I wondered about that; I looked in that space thinking that would be the problem area but not surprisingly, saw nothing with naked eye. ( I assume the lake test you mean is the "air test", right?)
Thanks!You can use just about anything that'll blow air - compressor, shop vacuum, leaf blower - just be careful to not put the full flow into the hull; i.e., bleed most of the air "overboard". Otherwise you may cause more problems than you're trying to repair. Setting up the blower with it pointed at the drain opening, leaving a gap in between, will likely give sufficient pressure inside the hull for the soap bubble test to work. Better to ease into the pressure than putting too much in. You may need to tape over the mast hole, since you know it leaks, and possibly the vent hole in the cockpit as well.
Thanks!Yes, tape over the hull vent and as Kevin says be careful not to inflate the hull and blow it apart!
However the valve (?) in bottom of cockpit designed (I think) to drain water--which hadn't worked for years (it's a 70's boat)--froze and crumbled--so I'll probably have to just seal the hole.
Hi--As a temporary seal for the Sunfish original plastic cockpit bailer, auto parts supply stores can get you a water-tight expanding freeze plug" for about $4.
True story: While working at my empty lot, a "bump-steer" Bobcat excavator rolled a really big tubeless tire off the rim. The owner drove off to "buy some hardware". He returned with a book of matches, and a can of carburetor spray. He sprayed inside the rim, waited a few seconds, then threw a match in the tire's general location. POP!"...The takeaway is that you need enough pressure to seat the rim as LVW said..."
Hi--"...1) what do I seal that seam with?"
The seam can be filled with a waterproof silicone caulk. If you run a weak vacuum at the same time, the seam will be better sealed for it.
"...2) the bailer that broke was metal; there's still a collar which I'll have to break off. Then you think freeze plug will work...?"
Remove every part of the metal bailer. The freeze plug will work. However, so there are no surprises should the plug should get nudged by dock or foot, I'd suggest using a larger washer (than supplied) on the bolt head end. A 5/16" wing nut will enable a quick draining from rainfall. Don't remove it while afloat!
"...3) also got 2 flats on the dolly--which don't inflate with pump so I assume I need to fix or replace inner tubes--but it looks like it will be a job to get tire off the rim (any suggestions?)
Two choices:
1) Check your tires to see if they "read" tubeless. Note the valve stem: have they sunken inside, or firmly wedged in the rim? In either case, try filling the tire again after wrapping several radiator clamps securely in a big loop around the center of the tire circumference. Soap-up the bead with soap suds and brush. You'll be trying to seal the bead on both sides, rather than have the tube (if present) squeeze out of the rim.
2) Tube-type tire: Don't bother fixing the tire. Google around, and you'll find a mounted tire on your choice of rim. Neither rim nor tire you'll receive is the quality they used to bebut they're cheap and bolt-on upon receipt. Some require just the removal of a cotter pin. Try Harbor Freight. (If they are lug nuts, make sure the old lug nuts can be removed —use WD-40, "P-B Blaster" or "Kroil" to break the stubborn ones loose).
My bet is that the tire isn't seating on the rim, and your hard-fought inflations are just leaking around the rim.
Edited...:My reply took over 30 minutes, so the previous replies are "still on the mark".
It's "Next Year"!Now remains to fix dolly tires. Sailing will have to wait till next year.