Model Boat Mayhem

The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Pleasure boats, Sports, Race, Power and Leisure Boats: => Topic started by: Ben Tickle on September 29, 2010, 06:41:28 pm

Title: Leakage!
Post by: Ben Tickle on September 29, 2010, 06:41:28 pm
Hi,

Does anyone know how you find where a leak is on your boat hull?

Every time i use my boat it fills up with water

Thanks

Ben
Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: Martin (Admin) on September 29, 2010, 06:51:35 pm
Bath test in order here. As long as the boat fit in the bath I guess.....

Put enough water in the bath so that the boat only just floats with the batteries etc. fitted.
Leave the boat in the bath for a few minutes to see if any water gets in.
Yes: Check prop tube & Rudder post.
No: Try running the motor at slow speed and check again.

Water?
Yes: Probably your prop shaft, bearings or lock nut.
No: Push the boat gently down into the water to see stressing the hull shows up cracks.

Martin  :-))
Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: Ben Tickle on September 29, 2010, 06:58:15 pm
Hi Martin,

Thanks for your advice! I have tried it in the bath and there is no water being let in! I have also tried it running slowly and there still does not seem to be any water let in! The only thing i can assume is there are a few cracks on the gel coat, so it could possibly be this. The next question would be, how do i seal the boat as it is an apparition catamaran which you can't get your fingers in to work on it. Would epoxy seal it???

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: John Mk2 on September 29, 2010, 08:10:33 pm
Ive got an App/Cat (See my pic) Make sure the flexy is greased , the tube is sealed (Mine was loose!) rudder mount bolts are done up (mine were not!) & make sure you tape it up well (Found hockey tape good) hope this helps.
Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: Ben Tickle on September 29, 2010, 08:13:32 pm
Hi,

Thanks for your advice. Yes i do have that exact boat! When you say tube, what is this?

Thanks

Ben
Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: John Mk2 on September 29, 2010, 08:35:07 pm
Hi Its the silver flexy tube from stinger to where to enters the hull. As its teflon coated it needs taken out sanded down (240 grit) & epoxied back back in  :-)) Took me ages to sort out ALL the snags out :(( Set up Ect Still on going now >:-o   
Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: Ben Tickle on September 30, 2010, 06:18:21 am
Hi,

I am pretty new to model boating! Could you please try and explain this a little simpler?  {-)

Ben
Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: John Mk2 on September 30, 2010, 06:38:45 am
First thing is it the same boat as mine an A.R.T.R  HOR App/Cat ?

http://www.astecmodels.co.uk/catalog/index.php?cPath=97

If yes we will take it from there :-))

Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: tigertiger on September 30, 2010, 07:25:02 am
If you can remove all your sensitive electrics.

Put the boat on a bench and fill it with water. Look for the leaks on the outside. This may be easier.
Outside of hull needs to be dry first.
Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: martno1fan on September 30, 2010, 08:27:35 am
Gelcoat cracks shouldnt make a boat leak theyre just on the surface usually,most likeley water is getting in through the hatch when running fast as you say no water when sat still or running slow?.
Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: dodgy geezer on September 30, 2010, 08:46:04 am
One useful technique may be to dust the inside of your boat with a little talcum powder and then run it for a short while. As water comes in the tracks it makes should be more visible then...
Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: John Mk2 on September 30, 2010, 09:03:35 am
It might be waters coming up the flexy cable when running at speed. If its the same boat as mine it had no grease at ALL on cable  {:-{ And motor needed to be realigned Ect Ect Was Not at all impressed with the build quality  {:-{ The running gears fine  ;) Just needed some work to get it sorted. 
Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: John Mk2 on September 30, 2010, 09:14:43 am
This is what was needed.
Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: John Mk2 on September 30, 2010, 09:16:50 am

(http://s4.postimage.org/R0Wo9.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/2znbset44/)
Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: Ben Tickle on September 30, 2010, 05:27:25 pm
Hi,

On my boat, i have had a look at it and at one point i no it woz dropped onto the two hulls at the front end, i think some water maybe getting in hear, how do i reseal this?

Also, while im at it, i may aswell seal the cracks if someone could please let me know how to seal a boat?

Thanks

Ben
Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: DickyD on September 30, 2010, 05:32:35 pm
Can you post a photo of the problem bits ?
Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: John Mk2 on September 30, 2010, 06:10:23 pm
this is how i fixed mine after the rudder servo broke >:-o
(http://s4.postimage.org/Ssmrr.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/32k93vh0k/)
Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: John Mk2 on September 30, 2010, 06:12:03 pm

(http://s4.postimage.org/Sswq0.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/32kfq0uzo/)
Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: John Mk2 on September 30, 2010, 06:13:25 pm

(http://s4.postimage.org/SsITJ.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/32knzplgk/)
Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: Ben Tickle on September 30, 2010, 06:20:39 pm
Hi,

I've taken some pics, there all pretty much illegible though! That is the right bit of the boat though (John mk2). Its a bit smashed as my dad dropped it on its nose!:(

Any advice??

Ben
Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: Drkomen86 on September 30, 2010, 06:21:35 pm
nice clean fix.
I had the same damage on mine on delivary, they dropped it in postage  <:(
looks good now tho  :-)
What motor, batt and ESC are you using in yours?
the reason I ask is I am converting mine from nitro to brushless.
Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: Ben Tickle on September 30, 2010, 06:29:07 pm
Hi,

I took some pics but there preety much illegible:(

Its where i go from here really?


(http://s2.postimage.org/1liWA.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/2ptb6tus/)

(http://s2.postimage.org/1lqq0.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/2py9svc4/)

(http://s2.postimage.org/1lxUr.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/2q38ewtg/)
Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: John Mk2 on September 30, 2010, 06:58:17 pm
Hi,

I took some pics but there preety much illegible:(

Its where i go from here really?


(http://s2.postimage.org/1liWA.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/2ptb6tus/) What mine ?

(http://s2.postimage.org/1lqq0.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/2py9svc4/)

(http://s2.postimage.org/1lxUr.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/2q38ewtg/)

Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: John Mk2 on September 30, 2010, 07:05:42 pm
If you mean mine  {:-{ 2700 kv exl B/L , 125 (150 burst) Amp e.s.c ,38 mm prop. 14cells (3300mah) or Lipo 6s 3000, 35c  ;)
Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: Ben Tickle on September 30, 2010, 07:07:21 pm
I don't understand what you mean??

Ben
Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: Drkomen86 on September 30, 2010, 07:11:43 pm
cool, what kind of speed does that give you?
Im looking at putting a 3600kv motor with a 60A ESC and a 3c 5000 Lipo, how do you think it will do?
Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: John Mk2 on September 30, 2010, 07:37:57 pm
Kin fast on lipo 6s But needs to be set up right (takes time) {:-{ C of G , prop angle/height ect  %) These are fast boats (On flat water) if its windy/choppy take CARE ok2 Anyway back to Bens  leak ?
Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: martno1fan on September 30, 2010, 07:44:29 pm
Water shouldnt run up a flex when its spinning ,the direction its spinning pushes water out  so its getting in somewhere else unless as i say its coming in when boat stops.
Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: John Mk2 on September 30, 2010, 08:07:32 pm
That was just an idea :embarrassed: I had a Dateline Storm (My First fast leccy) Wet behind the ears then  {:-{ Tube & Flexy worn out Water p*ssed in when boat stopped >:-o
Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: Drkomen86 on September 30, 2010, 08:15:41 pm
my flexi let a little water in when stopped, what I used was a little heat shrink over the end or the brass outer tube and then shrank so it is just loose on the flexi.
worked amazingly well for me  :-))
Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: Ben Tickle on October 01, 2010, 07:20:42 am
Hi,

I have just checked for play in the flexishaft, the appears to be about 2mm of movement?

Also, if i re grease the flexi should i use copper grease???

Thanks

Ben

Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: martno1fan on October 01, 2010, 08:27:58 am
If your tube orriginally had a teflon liner maybe its now too loose?,if it just requires regreasing then use a good quallity marine grease.
Mart
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AQUASLIP-MARINE-WATERPROOF-GREASE-500G-TIN-WPG500-BOAT-/310207287262?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_BoatEquipment_Accessories_SM&hash=item4839cb8fde
Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: John Mk2 on October 01, 2010, 08:37:51 am
Good Stuff That  :-))
Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: Ben Tickle on October 01, 2010, 05:42:33 pm
My boat has like a plastic tube before the flexishaft.
If i was to regrease it, should i grease the outside of the tube (plastic) or grease the outside of the tube or both?

Would i be OK using copper grease or not?

Thanks
Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: John Mk2 on October 01, 2010, 07:46:57 pm
Just lube the flexy not to much as it causes drag  {:-{ I dont think copper will last long  :(( Use the grease we recommended  :-)) Unless someone has other ideas ?
Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: John Mk2 on October 01, 2010, 07:50:08 pm
I use this.


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ripmax-ProNature-Triflow-Prop-Shaft-Grease-50g-Tub-/130412557757?pt=UK_ToysGames_RadioControlled_JN&hash=item1e5d31b5bd#ht_500wt_928
Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: Ben Tickle on October 02, 2010, 05:35:50 pm
Hi,

Fingers crossed, my boat will not let anymore water in now! I have re greased the flexi shaft and the teflon tube with spray grease. I then tried it in the bath and it didn't let any water in, even when i reved it flat out. I have also siliconed around where the cooling water enters the boat as i have a feeling that this may also be causing problems as the back end of the boat has water coming over it when slowing down.

Thanks for all your help and i will let you know the outcome tomorrow:D

Ben
Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: Drkomen86 on October 02, 2010, 05:58:04 pm
just put a single strip of insulation tape over the gap where the lid meets the hull
Title: Re: Leakage!
Post by: Ben Tickle on October 13, 2010, 10:29:24 am
Hi All,

Just to inform you all i have just tested my boat with a leak. I totally submerged it in the bath for about a minute and i got abou 10ml of water in. Last time i did this it got nearly 3 whole syringes in it.

Thanks

Ben