Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length.

[TonyVee]

Hi,
I'm new to this game having come from a history of RC tanks I'm now into RC boats. I have a very nice 33 inch tug which I'm please with and will soom build a 30" barge to go with it.... (I'd like to add photos but can't work out how to do it)
I have also bought a 44 inch old (1960s) Fairey Swordsman cruiser, as I used to own such a cruiser on the Thames many years ago. It was in a bit of a state with gungy brown decks and electronics out of Noahs Ark !!
I stripped it down completely, added new ESC, 2.4Ghz RX/TX, and new paint job + real wood striping decks. Very please with it's looks now
BUT... I have a 6 foot plastic trough (1ft deep 1ft wide) in the garden to test my boats in before letting them loose on the lake. The cruiser leaked !
Back in the workshop, lots of plastic padding around the (newly fitted) rudder and shaft, plus all along the inside of the keel. Back into the trough. No leaks. Left it for a couple of hours. One inch of water in the bilges 
Anyone know of a water proofing spray I can use, or other methods of curing leaks from invisible cracks ?
By the way, it's a firbeglass hull.
Best wishes
TonyVee

[barriew]

Are you sure the water isn't coming in through the prop or rudder tube?

Barrie

[TonyVee]

Well I stood over it for half an hour. Pushed it down in the water. Couldn't see a drop coming anywhere. But when left it ended up with lots in it. Could it be seaping through the hull as it's a very old one? Water only in the two rear compatrments out of 4.
T.

[malcolmfrary]

If the inner ends of either the prop shaft tube or the are below the water line, water will creep in unless there is some grease in the way.
The fact that only the rear is affected indicates this as a probable cause.
My way of finding leaks in a wooden hull was to pour in some thin white paint and slosh it around.  Eventually, the leak showed itself.  As the paint set, it sealed itself as well.  If tried with a FG hull, the same could happen, or the leaky area could be dug out and replaced with a proper repair.

[Shipmate60]

If there is a leak the only way to fix it properly is from the outside.
If you repair the inside the leak will allow water into the wood, soaking it and swelling it.

Bob

[malcolmfrary]

If there is a leak the only way to fix it properly is from the outside.
If you repair the inside the leak will allow water into the wood, soaking it and swelling it.

Bob

But, from the first post, its a fibreglass hull.  First thing is to find the source of the leak, then cut away around it, then do a full repair.  The paint will identify the hole or split.
When the trick is used on a wood hull, the paint soaks right through, in effect, it is an external repair.  Talking hairline cracks and pin size holes here - small, difficult to find ones.

[Stavros]

take out all the electrics mix up some grp resin pour into the boat turn it upside down turn to post turn to stbd pour out excess,it works for me,it will seal any holes and then bath test again,if still coming in then try your rudder post and shafts



Stavros

[Shipmate60]

Same for GRP, over time it will delaminate the hull.

Bob

[TonyVee]

Hi All
Many thanlks for all the tips. I've come across one on a web-site somewhere I think I'll try first. It's not quite so drastic as GRPing all over the hull. The web-site suggested spray-painting clear, gloss lacquer all over the hull, inside and out. I've also found in the USA an automatic baler which is battery operated. Rather like a real one a sensor 'senses' water in the bilges, switches on a mini pump and ejects the water out through a tube in the stern. I've got one on order. Hopefuly a combination of the two will enable me to run my cruiser on the lake soon. If that doesn't do the job I'll come back to your suggestions.
For photos go to www.flightsimgrpuk.free-online.co.uk (RC Boats 1, 2, & 3). You can also see a very noice photo of our lake at the club and details of a future project I have in  mind.
Best wishes
TonyVee

[Shipmate60]

Tony before you do try it the other way round.
Remove all electronics and raise the "dry end" and fill with water.
pur newspaper under and round it and leave overnight.
the newspaper turns grey when wet and the leak should stay damp on the hull.
Will take a while to dry out though.

Bob