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Reply to: Dumn Newbie Question: How do you know the hulls are water tight?

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[quote=MN3]I wouldn't buy a cat i couldn't go on a test sail first... unless it was brand new... and who buys a new cat???  lol

But to answer your question (which is not a stupid question at all)...

there are several ways.. of course a test ride is the first.
you can use a vacuum (or compressor) and add some pressure through the drain plug. you soap up the hulls and beams and see if it bubbles... this method is more typically used to find leaks than test for airtightness but would work. CAUTION MUST BE USED WITH THIS METHOD>.. you can do some real damage if you put in to much pressure. Also most (if not all) hulls have some way to breath and let out any built up pressure.. often its under the beam and not accessible without disassembly. Hulls will build up pressure with heating and cooling from the sun/surroundings/water/etc

Another option is to fill them with some water and see if it drips out... this method is used usually when the bubble method doesn't find the leak.. but you are taking on water.<em>edited by: andrewscott, Jul 29, 2009 - 10:04 AM</em> [/quote]

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