Alan Glos
Active Member
I have performed a few leak tests on Sunfish and Lasers by blowing air into the interior of the hull via the drain hole and then covering the hull with soapy water and looking for the telltale bubbles. Last summer I used a shop vac (in blower mode) and was initially alarmed with the hull expanded somewhat (no damage, but I think I put a little too much air in the interior!)
How do some of you do leak tests. What device do you use to blow air into the interior of the hull and what p.s.i. level is safe and effective. I hear horror stories about people blowing the decks off the hulls, and I want to avoid such an outcome.
Also, where do folks find the most leaks? So far I have found leaks in dings that penetraate the skin down to the fiberglass mat, in and ariound the mast hole (especially the bottom of the mast hole where the butt of the mast chafes through the fiberglass tube), the daggerboard trunk near the bottom of the hull and along the hull topside and the deck joint under the metal trim. Are any other areas common leak sites?
Alan Glos
Cazenovia, NY
How do some of you do leak tests. What device do you use to blow air into the interior of the hull and what p.s.i. level is safe and effective. I hear horror stories about people blowing the decks off the hulls, and I want to avoid such an outcome.
Also, where do folks find the most leaks? So far I have found leaks in dings that penetraate the skin down to the fiberglass mat, in and ariound the mast hole (especially the bottom of the mast hole where the butt of the mast chafes through the fiberglass tube), the daggerboard trunk near the bottom of the hull and along the hull topside and the deck joint under the metal trim. Are any other areas common leak sites?
Alan Glos
Cazenovia, NY