GRP Enterprise Dinghy Floor and Tanks

   Unless you are actually sure that the floor-tank join is the problem, start by checking with pressure, using a pump through the bung hole and some soapy water around the possible problem points - hatches, bungs and any fittings screwed to the tanks as well as the joints. We did this on an old Wayfarer and were amazed at how much the supposedly filled holes from old fittings leaked.

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patj Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 16 Jul 04 Location: Wiltshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 643	Post Options Post Reply Quote patj Report Post Quote Reply Topic: GRP Enterprise Dinghy Floor and Tanks Posted: 26 May 16 at 6:54pm
	Unless you are actually sure that the floor-tank join is the problem, start by checking with pressure, using a pump through the bung hole and some soapy water around the possible problem points - hatches, bungs and any fittings screwed to the tanks as well as the joints. We did this on an old Wayfarer and were amazed at how much the supposedly filled holes from old fittings leaked.

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 25 May 16 at 9:34pm
	Not sure I quite got my head round that. Any water that gets into the boat will leak into the tanks where they have split from the tanks. Unless the tanks are also leaking through old screw holes or cracks elsewhere too, when water may well leak out of the tanks into the boat!
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

Smorgie Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 22 May 16 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote Smorgie Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 24 May 16 at 10:35pm
	Thanks Rupert that makes sense now. So the water leaks in through the floor because that isn't bonded to the tank any more and because the tanks aren't bonded to the hull any more the water gets into the gets up into the tank.

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 24 May 16 at 10:17pm
	The side tanks would have been bonded to the hull with polyester resin, but the flexing has caused the joint to fail, as the resin, while the same stuff as the plastic the hull is made from isn't the best glue in the world. However, no other glue, such as epoxy, would have worked while the GRP in the layup was still curing. The boats were built with a finite lifespan, and that they have lasted this long is amazing. In order to get them as light as the wooden boats with early GRP technology, they had to build them thin.
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

Smorgie Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 22 May 16 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote Smorgie Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 24 May 16 at 10:03pm
	Again, thanks for the replies. I will be sailing on an inland lake with safety boat cover so I don't think I'll start drinking the wine just yet. Thanks for the tip about the front storage. I will fill it up with a hose and see if it stays full.....or disappears. So does anyone know if they originally sealed the floor and the sealant has failed over time?

423zero Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 08 Jan 15 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3420	Post Options Post Reply Quote 423zero Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 24 May 16 at 8:12pm
	Small Coke bottles would be easier to insert, blob them with Sika-flex they will bind together where they land, no rattles.

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 24 May 16 at 7:52pm
	Add in the cost of going to to get them and you could buy another boat!
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

piglet Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 04 Jan 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 514	Post Options Post Reply Quote piglet Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 24 May 16 at 7:13pm
	Wine bladders are light and surprisingly durable. And more fun to drink than all that lemonade.

423zero Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 08 Jan 15 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3420	Post Options Post Reply Quote 423zero Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 24 May 16 at 5:46pm
	I would go for fibre glassing joint, Drill a series of 4mm/ish diameter holes in side tanks and floor, use a depth stop on floor, the resin will then go through holes and give a good physical hold, scour existing gel coat also, will look similar to taping on Mirror.

SUGmeister Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Sailwave Moderators Joined: 08 Jun 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 265	Post Options Post Reply Quote SUGmeister Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 24 May 16 at 5:34pm
	Think you're probably right Jim, so here's another left field idea. Presuming that you can buy lorry tyre inner tubes nowadays, put one into each side tank and soft inflate.
	Simon SUGmeister I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.