i fiddled with the boat today and found out why we pitched yesterday. the hulls had lots o water in em. at least 5 gallons each hull. when we jibed the water in the hulls rolled to the front and the boat got light in the back and the wind pushed it over. i was surprised to find water because i had reglassed the hulls earlier this winter. there were no puddles under the boat to indicate holes in the keels. i tilted the boad and noticed no leakage around gudgeons or drainplugs. how else could water get in the hulls? i am assuming that its from the pylon area. isnt there supposed to be some sort of plug for them? i guess you have to remove the frame to get at them. what is the proceedure for this? do i have to undo the tramp?

hey i have the same problem with my 81, the hulls dont leak but i am guessing water gets in around the pylon on the port hull. i only get water in the hull on windy days when theres a lot of spray and the hull is being immersed. it stays dry on light air. the starboard hull doesnt leak . i have put silicone around the hull-pylon joint but it still leaks. anybody out there, help!

The Pylons are sealed with closed cell foam plugs, that start flush at the top and extend downward past the bolt holes. The front pylons have a small vent tube through the center of the foam plug to release any pressure in the hulls. Of course the foam begins to disintegrate with age, and If you are picking up water from the pylons it's most likely around the holes for the corner casting bolts. I've never heard of a replacement plug being available??



The foam plugs are exposed to the elements at two places per pylon. At the top of the pylon and at the bolt holes. The two problems with using a sealant to cover exposed areas are, the vent tubes in the top of the front pylon, and the bolt holes, that need to be left cleanly open somehow.



A drinking straw could be placed over the vent tube to keep the tube clear as silicon is smeared over the top of the pylon. A dowel or maybe the bolts themselves wrapped in wax paper or cellophane could be placed in the bolt holes after silicon is smeared or somehow inserted into the holes, and given time to dry. Then when the bolts are pulled free of the pylon, the dried silicon left behind helps seal the foam from the elements but leaves the hole free and clear for the bolt.



If the trampoline is tight the frame will require more work with a rubber mallet to get off but should pull away. Just depends on how tight the fit between pylons and corner casting have become, including and any built up crud or heaven forbid, epoxy.

If you have added ports to the hulls check them. I had a similar problem with my P16, I did not think the ports were the prob, but when I took them off the silicon had broken down even though it looked intact befor I removed them. I heard that the best way to install them is to silicone thim to the boat, but only slightly tighten the screws. Let the sealant set up and then tighten the rest of the waw so the sealant can form a gasket.



Check the drain plug flange sealant also.



Just a thought.

Bogie I would think one could use a sealant to cover exposed areas and just open the drain plugs each day to let out pressure.

i got tramp off the back pylons and pulled out the old plugs. they looked like swiss cheese. the foam had degraded quite a bit. i found one of the kids fun noodles and cut me off a piece. it is made of closed cell foam and was the perfect diameter. fun noodles are long pool floats. for the front pylons i pulled the bolts out and found the same problem with the foam. since i couldnt get apart, i went to the store and bought some expanding foam( the kind in a spraycan). i shot some in there and let it fill the voids in the old foam. i then punched the bolts through the foam.