Fellas,

Careful with pressure. I agree with a vacuum cleaner blower approach. However, it is my understanding the the H16 hull is not a true "air-seal" and pressure is supposed to equalize through the foam plug in the pylons. Therefore, you should not be hearing a swoosh of air when the drain plug is released. Perhaps someone else can chime in on this.

Also, if you can`t find the leaks, look very closely at the sanded ridge where the hull bottoms mate with the hull caps. ie. this is the relatively flat and sharp ridge you get your fingers under when lifting a hull. You will find many defects along this ridge. They resemble little pits and holes. Some of these are air-bubbles formed in construction and are unpreventable for the most part. Water can leak through some of these. I was able to pass fluid out from the hulls through some of them by rolling the hulls (slowly) across the saw-horses I had placed them on during restoration. I found that I was unable to fully discern ALL of pits which leaked from those that did not. As a result, I used a small amount of polyester resin mixed with a small portion of microballoons (to prevent running) and plugged all the pits I could find. It took me about 20 minutes to do this with the hulls positioned upside down. It would be much trickier with the boat assembled but certainly possible. I imagine there are several other approaches and sealing methods to this problem as well.


Dave