Mystery Leak

[Nova II 260]

I've gotten water in the bilge ever since I've owned the boat. It looks like about a pint or less per hour, not much. Could never figure out where it was coming from. Took her out 1st time since motherday for 5 hours. Sitting in the drive way I discover a wet spot...(no, not in the cuddy

. Looked underneath at the keel and there was a drip and a drip stain 2" to port from center, 10" in from the transom.
What looked like a gelcoat rock chip was actually a hole the diameter of a paperclip .030". It dripped about on drop a minute. What would make a hole that small, and have gone all the way through the hull there? Very strange.

This old hull must be a about 2" thick there. Due to my engine compartment design, I can't get to or see it on the inside. Any ideas? sabotage?

I thought I would post this as others may also have a mystery mini leak. Check your rock chips on the bottom.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Mystery Leak

Wow! That's odd indeed? Aha, it must be sabatoogie,,,lol,,, By the way, do you have a neighbor with a nailgun that don't like you?,,,lol,,, just kiddin, Anyway, glad you finally found it, thanks for the tip, By the way Nice boat! in awesome shape, I always liked those Nova's, but I don't envy your gas bill, that's why I don't have one. Happy boating

 

[Nova II 260]

Re: Mystery Leak

By the way, do you have a neighbor with a nailgun that don't like you?...By the way Nice boat! in awesome shape, I always liked those Nova's, but I don't envy your gas bill

Don't think so, just a old fat widow next door.
I believe that hole was there when I bought it. "buyer beware"
I'm getting a skinny kid to reach in the bilge tunnel and see if he can feel anything. No room for my fat butt and a back that can't bend that way anymore.
Where can one rent a small bilge rat that can handle a digicam.

Gas Bill? Someone has to keep the Arabs happy...

 

[dingbat]

Re: Mystery Leak

It?s most likely the onset of a hull blister. If not treated properly it will spread and creates a whole new set of problems.

Lots of good information on the subject

http://www.daviscoltd.com/nams/Documents/Blister_Report.html

 

[Nova II 260]

Re: Mystery Leak

Wow, very interesting (long) article. Thanks for the link. My boat leaks, but so does yours apparently .... Don't feel too bad now.
I do have a little blistering, all FRP boats I've seen 20+ years old do.
But this hole has no gel blister or gel crack. Just hole. It almost looks like it was drilled. I worked some Marine tex in there to seal it. I think maybe they (wellcraft) dropped a staple or brad during the layup. Over the years this staple rusted away leaving a straight hole.

Should've titled this thread "found a ho in my boat"

 

[dingbat]

Re: Mystery Leak

Wow, very interesting (long) article. Thanks for the link. My boat leaks, but so does yours apparently .... Don't feel too bad now.
I do have a little blistering, all FRP boats I've seen 20+ years old do.
But this hole has no gel blister or gel crack. Just hole. It almost looks like it was drilled. I worked some Marine tex in there to seal it. I think maybe they (wellcraft) dropped a staple or brad during the layup. Over the years this staple rusted away leaving a straight hole.

Should've titled this thread "found a ho in my boat"

Bet you couldn't guess I?m an Engineer with that article

Mine better not have any blisters or there is going to be local surveyor with a moisture meter implanted you know where. Just spent $350 last spring to have the entire hull moisture tested when I took out the loan.

Good luck and hope you find nothing of significance when you get in into the repair.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Mystery Leak

The Marine Tex repair will outlast you. No need to do anything else.

 

[Coors]

Re: Mystery Leak

Bet you couldn't guess I?m an Engineer with that article

Mine better not have any blisters or there is going to be local surveyor with a moisture meter implanted you know where. Just spent $350 last spring to have the entire hull moisture tested when I took out the loan.

Good luck and hope you find nothing of significance when you get in into the repair.

I'm a construction superintendent for 35 years; like engineers are always right?

 

[dingbat]

Re: Mystery Leak

I'm a construction superintendent for 35 years; like engineers are always right?

Do I feel a wee bit of resentment here? Who pi$$ed in your Wheaties?

 

[Nova II 260]

Re: Mystery Leak

Mine better not have any blisters .....

YET!
From what I gleaned of that thesis "THE CAUSES OF BOAT HULL BLISTERS". ALL RFP lay-ups retain, absorb, wick or permiate water through osmosis and it is the nature of the fibreglass boat beast. Albeit minute in volume (in most cases) it happens. Gelcoats, do not help much in the long term. Minimizing exposure to outside water is the only thing that prolongs non-blistering. Hence, slipped boats suffer the most.

 

[Nova II 260]

Re: Mystery Leak

Follow up: Marine Tex'd the hole. Water tested all day and no water in the bilge that night. However, we had a serious monsoon rain the next day and although I had the boat fully covered, I left the wings open !! ... AAARRGGHH!