Leaky Sailboat

Many leaks have been successfully and completely sealed using merely tube(s) of

Marine Grade JBWELD, available at any AutoZone, autoparts stores ($2.98) ....

pull out of tube, pinch and mix, apply UNDERWATER to hull, fiberglass, metal, wood.

Sounds like where your stuffing box is attached to your hull- thats where you might have a leak. Do you see the leak? Is it leaking between the stuffing box is attached to your hull?

You might have some bolts there that you can tighten. Your stuffing box could be leaking and need to be tightened. It is possible thatthat leak will show beteen some metal parts of yor stuffing box.

If you got a leak in the hull or where the stuffing box is attached to the hull- you can get some plumbers epoxy - you can get that at home depot. It comes in two parts that you nead together with your fingers then pressit into the leaking hole and press on it until it gets hard. Read the instructions.

Make sure you see the leak before you fix it.

It could be real simple - make sure your stuffing box is tightened properly. Most stuffing boxes want a slow drip when you are under power or you can heat the shaft.

It is normal for a stuffing box to be leaking more after you have had the prop removed.

Your problem may not be related to an increase in leak rate as much as that without your prop the boat is much slower. This gives the water more time to enter the boat without a change in leak rate. Try having the diver replace the prop and see if that helps.

Take the boat out of the water now and fix the leak properly.

Do not stuff around with leaks in vessels that could worsen, particularly in bad weather conditions............many boats founder annually, some with fatalities, due to poor, or lack of correct maintenance procedures.

Do yourself a favour..................fix it correctly now!!

Pulling a sailboat from the water for inspection is costly, but salvaging one from the bottom is far worse.

You don't know the source or even the actual entry site. It could be the stuffing box mounting system or the prop strut mounting system that provides the entry.

But, if you don't know, please con't assume that the patch will work. You may be patching a pinhole, or a whole assembly about to leave the boat. How can you know without a real inspection.

As for WELDERMAN, What are you talking about ?

Simply that with the prop off the boat, it won't go very fast. This gives water more time to enter the hull. After the prop is replaced, the boat will be significantly faster and less water will leak in between points A and B. Believe it or not, I used to be a rocket scientist.

Have you checked your rudder-post gland? You don't say if you've found the actual leak. Your Marine Supply House has an epoxy putty that the Navy developed for underwater repairs; I've not used it but read that it works well.

If you were planning on pulling the boat out in the fall anyway why did you go to the expense of having a diver pull the prop off in the first place? Or did you decide to pull the boat out in the fall after you had the diver pull the prop because of the sudden leak?

I don't know ANYTHING at all about how sail boats are put together. But to me it sounds like a gasket or seal broke lose when they were removing the prop. It was probably in bad shape to begin with and the pulling & torquing they did while removing the prop aggravated the problem.

I love sail boats but don't know the first thing about them. I've only been on my friends boat once right before he decided to retire and sail his to Florida from Missouri.

How about a picture of yours so we all can dream of sailing away from our troubles for a while.

Have another scotch, sir!!!!!

If you can determine the origin of the water leak, it may be easier to decide how to fix it. The petroleum industry uses a product called Kolor Kut. It is a paste that will change from a dull tan color to a vivid pink color in the presence of water. If you spread a thin layer of this around any suspected leak areas, you will be able to spot your leak easier. Good luck.