Temporary blocking up limber holes in bilges to trace small leak

[FairweatherDave]

I am trying to trace an annoying minor leak. My boat has a shallow bilge subdivided by stringers (that support the floor boards) and each section has limber holes to allow water to move to the lowest point. To identify the source of the leak I want to temporarily plug the limber holes, but many have cables passing through, so wine corks don't work. I am thinking glazing putty as a cheap temporary product I could use and then poke out. (I started with the idea of polysulphide sealant). Any reason for not using glazing putty? Any better ideas? I am thinking of a max time period of 48 hours, possibly a lot less.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Plasticine would clean up easier.

 

[Lon nan Gruagach]

Plasticine would clean up easier.

Dosent pasticine go a bit funky in water?

Depends how big the bilge is, but a good way to trace leaks is dry the area then stuff it with paper towels and inspect regularly.

 

[chinita]

I can't think of anything better than putty. Perhaps mixed with a little grease or linseed oil to make it easier to work.

 

[Yngmar]

Blu-Tack. Does turn white under water after several months, but stays put nonetheless.

 

[FairweatherDave]

Thanks folks. I am still undecided what I will take, probably a bit of everything. I do think the glazing putty is the stickiest stuff, and what it is sticking to is greasy dampish fibreglass and similar greasy cables and not sure blue tac likes that. Staples office stationary shop and Toolstation are next to each other.......hmmmmm

 

[Seajet]

Please excuse me for stating the obvious, but on the next refit it might be better to re-route the cables in conduits well above normal waterline level - I know re-routing wires is a right pain, usually requiring longer wires.

I fitted dinghy style captive bungs in the limber holes in my boat, so as to try to control where water goes; a sort of mini version of watertight compartments, which I'm also working on.

In case it's a thought, I have a manual bilge pump operable by the helmsman in the cockpit, and a similar bilge pump in the cabin with a diverter valve and long hose; the pump in the cabin nomally empties the sink into the outboard well ( no through hull fittings on my boat by choice ) but with the diverter valve I can put the hose anywhere I want within the boat and pump out - if conditions are bad and I'm cowering inside !

Just ideas...

Andy

 

[oldbilbo]

That's a rather complicated 'pee tube'...!

Shurely a ShePee would suit rather better - and cheaper?

 

[PaulRainbow]

Dosent pasticine go a bit funky in water?

Hadn't heard that. It's waterproof and it's a minor leak, so wouldn't have thought it to be a problem. It's largely made from petroleum jelly, so i'd have thought it would have been ideal in the conditions the OP described.

 

[Seajet]

That's a rather complicated 'pee tube'...!

Shurely a ShePee would suit rather better - and cheaper?

Taking the pee I think Bilbo; and all it would require for you to sample it on my boat would be a jubilee clip; I blush to suggest the size so best bring your own, stainless of course - 3/4" hose currently but a 6" dia funnel or diverter valve to the sink*, please let me know if the boat requires a refit bfore you visit.

While it doesn't apply on the A22....

* On the Invicible Class carriers it was a far walk to the heads from Officer's cabins, one said " there are those who pee in the sink - and liars !

 

[Giblets]

In reply to the OP may I suggest a tub of Plumber Mait from any good plumber's merchants. Good and sticky even when applied to damp surfaces and easy to remove when done with.

 

[syneraida]

Please excuse me for stating the obvious, but on the next refit it might be better to re-route the cables in conduits well above normal waterline level - I know re-routing wires is a right pain, usually requiring longer wires.

I would definitely agree its better to get as many cables out of the bilge as you can, but it is a massive pain in the backside and will almost certainly require new cables or extending the existing cable, I would steer clear of extending cables, it's probably better to have one continuous wire without joins in the bilge than a cable with a (hidden) join up in a deck head.

Anyway, we are rather getting off subject.

A good temporary seal is to slather some Vaseline on the lumber holes, and cables, then good old sika292 or you could use cheap-o bathroom silicone, but not sure it'll set in water, where as sika will set in a wet environment, just use sika sparingly and Vaseline liberally

 

[FairweatherDave]

Thanks Giblets. Reckon that stuff is my choice for today (and I do appreciate the other suggestions). It may seem over the top but if you factor the time to get over to the boat and home again and then back for inspection.....using up precious boat brownie points....
And I know cables should be out the bilge, but that is where someone else put them and they work at the moment, so....

 

[Spirit of Glenans]

I was given a great tip by Tim, the antipodean general factotum at Malahide Marina Boatyard; use blue paper towel material to track down mysterious leaks. Just lay out sheets of it in the bilges and you will immediately see a visual indication when It gets wet. You do have to start off with dry surfaces however, but it's free, and obtainable at many convenient locations

 

[oldharry]

I was given a great tip by Tim, the antipodean general factotum at Malahide Marina Boatyard; use blue paper towel material to track down mysterious leaks. Just lay out sheets of it in the bilges and you will immediately see a visual indication when It gets wet. You do have to start off with dry surfaces however, but it's free, and obtainable at many convenient locations

Tescos soft pink loo roll does the job well too. Picks up moisture quicker than the blue stuff because it is softer (if you believe the adverts... ) Useful for tracing diesel leaks too.

 

[bbg]

But those methods may not work as well if the idea is to leave the boat for a week or two. By the time the OP comes back to the boat, wicking may well have made a lot of the paper wet.

 

[eilerts]

Using paper towels is a good idea, but I would rather use diapers (for newly born). They can hold a lot more than the towels.
If you do not find the leak right away, but have a couple of suspects, you can use watercolour and soap (bar) and paint a line across the suspected way of the water. The soap makes the watercolour stick to polyester. If there is a leak the water vill dissolve the paint. When I was a kid we used to decorate candle with this.