Having trouble finding the info on how to do the leak test. Would using an electric air pump that’s meant to blow up inflatables work or would that be too much pressure?Ummm ..... that brown in the cracks seems more likely to be dirt. And there is no reason to think water seeping out from inside the hull would be brown.
That said the 2nd pic looks worrisome and is the 3rd of the aft end of the trunk? It looks like the damage you see when a boat runs aground and the board slams into the back of the trunk.
I’d do a pressure leak test - search for how to do that here on the site. With a long sailing season ahead, if the boat leaks, it would be best to fix the boat properly. Tape will eventually peel off and you’ll be leaking again, and fixing the boat properly isn’t hard.
Yes, but.....don't seal up the pump to the Sunfish drain - that would blast the air from the pump into the hull at full blast, which could pop some hull/deck or cockpit/deck seams. Instead, have one person hold the pump nozzle up to the boat's drain, but let quite a bit of the air leak and only some go into the hull.- that should be enough pressure. The other person can run the soapy sponge all over the boat looking for leaks.Would using an electric air pump that’s meant to blow up inflatables work or would that be too much pressure?
I attached an image of the directions for the test on the Sunfish Direct web site. They seem to think the air will stay in the boat if tape is put over the hole after but videos of the test show constant inflow of air so I’m confused. I did purchase a really small ball air pump but I’m terrified of pumping in too much air and blowing the boat apart! How do you do it safely??Well a hand pump puts out as little or as much pressure as you want. Maybe you can slap a piece of tape over the drain and hope enough pressure remains in the hull for the test? If anyone here has done the test solo maybe they will have an idea. If you can insert the raft pump into the drain but not seal it, most air should escape thru the drain but Enough pressure should remain for the test.
Btw be sure to tape over the hull vent at the top front of the cockpit or all the air will come out there!