[Stew85]

So my fibreglass fishing boat has recently started letting substantially more water than usually out of the bung when I undo it after a fishing trip... Any tips / tricks to find out why or how? I hit a solid bump in the road yesterday that snapped the hook off the winch strap so thinking that might be part of the issue?? Any tips gratefully accepted!

[82Juddcraft]

So my fibreglass fishing boat has recently started letting substantially more water than usually out of the bung when I undo it after a fishing trip... Any tips / tricks to find out why or how? I hit a solid bump in the road yesterday that snapped the hook off the winch strap so thinking that might be part of the issue?? Any tips gratefully accepted!

Hit the suspect area with a sander to see if there's any cracks on the inside.
Find the crack, gouge it out as deep as possible.
Sand any paint/gelcoat 100mm from the area.
Id use epoxy fiberglass resin and lay up 3 layers of woven fiberglass mat.
Look up boatworkstoday on YouTube on how to fiberglass. Its pretty easy just itchy.

[Stew85]

Thanks! I watched a video and I'm confident having a go (panel beater by trade). Just not actually sure how I can find the cracks where the water is coming in?

[82Juddcraft]

Thanks! I watched a video and I'm confident having a go (panel beater by trade). Just not actually sure how I can find the cracks where the water is coming in?

Timber transom?
[IMG]http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160207/3e4431c35379edcca9c65f5b3217ffe7.jpg[/IMG]
I would sand it back like that not too deep just enough to get into fresh fiberglass and retab the bottom and side edges. 3 layers is heaps.

[nevergrew]

Thanks! I watched a video and I'm confident having a go (panel beater by trade). Just not actually sure how I can find the cracks where the water is coming in?

You fill the boat with water while on the trailer. Stand back and wait !!

[Stew85]

Will it matter if I'm filling the bilge?

[nevergrew]

Nup. It's an outboard yeah? Even if it's an inboard it's still okay so long as water doesn't leak into the engine

[Stew85]

Gold. Thanks mate!

[themooch]

You won't hurt the hull by filling it with fresh water, as long as you let it air out afterwoods so it doesn't go mouldy. I remember my old runabout being left out in a massive rainstorm overnight. It thought it was safe because it had a sturdy cover. How wrong was I! The cover developed holes while being weighed done with huge amounts of water on top of it. This volume of water found its way into the boat, bilge and all. Took ages to drain from the bungs (think forgetting to put the bung in at the ramp). I was expecting terminal damage, but the only thing I had was smelly water draining out! So it actually did some good. I then left the boat out in the sun for the next few weeks with all the removable floor panels lifted and the bungs out. Good as gold after that.
Ps and there were no leaks