Help.........My boat is sinking as I type!!!?

Question

Just bought a boat to live on. It has a steel hull wich is rusted and corrosion is everywhere. Previous owner tried to fix with foam but it's now springing holes. what can i use to fix, besides pumping out water. I'm hoping for a cure without taking out of water.
Thank You BLUB, BLUB, BLUB

Answer 1

Ahhhh. Steel boat problems. I know the story. I have a steel boat myself, but thankfully no leaks...yet.
Eventually you will need to haul her out and weld steel plates over the holes and wek places. You should also have zincs attached to the hull. By this time they must be gone so you will need to replace those. Estimating the number you will need by how many my boat has, you will need about 2 every 8-10 feet, one on each side of the bottom.
After you have the zincs and welding done, apply a high copper content bottom paint. The higher the better. The cost of all this will depend on your area and I'm only giving basic info. I have to do my boat pretty soon, she's 33' and I'll be looking at about $500.00, at least. That's for haul-out, paint and zincs.
In case you're not familiar with the purpose of zincs, thay are sacrificial annodes. What that means is that they are connected directly to the hull and the electrolosis (causes rust) will be directed to them and not the steel of your hull. The hunks of zinc slowly corrode away and are the first to go. Mine have lasted about 3 years and I've only had to replace the one on the prop-shaft. Anytime you have two different metals touching, the electrolosis will cause the weaker metal to rust faster than normal (like steel and zinc or steel and stainless steel).

As for a temporary fix, get under your boat with dive gear or just goggles (if you're comfortable with that) and survey the damage. You will need to clean off the holes, getting marine groth and loose paint off from around the edges. Once you've done that you can try 3M's 5200 sealant. (They have several types, I think 5200 will cure under water. Maybe 6200). This sealant should bond to wood plastic, fiberglass or metal. Build a patch from one of these materials and drill a small hole in the center of the patch. Apply the sealant to the entire patch and put it in place by putting a screw in the hole you drilled. The screw should be attached to a string or wire that you can use to put pressure, holding the patch firmly in place until it's cured. It will take 24-72 hrs to completely cure so you just tie off the string and if it's flexible enough, twist a long nail or other object in the string to make it tight.
Once you've successfully done all this, remember that the patch is temporary and not structurally sound. If you attempt to operate the vessel at more than headway speed, it will likely rip the patch off. This should get you by until you can get her hauled out and properly repaired.
Hope this helps.

Answer 2

If it is truly as corroded as you say and is also leaking enough to make you think it is sinking. STOP POSTING ON YAHOO, AND TAKE THE BOAT OUT OF THE WATER!!!
First off, over half of these people will give you temporary fixes or advise that is not going to help at all.
Second, you boat needs professional help!
Third, if it sinks and pollutes the water with fuel oil I am sure that you will not like the fine from the Coast Guard and EPA that you will receive for the clean up effort.
Forth, you should have had the hull surveyed before putting it in the water knowing how bad it was.

Answer 3

I'm no professional , but common sense tells me that rust and corrosion will not just go away and will continue to eat at the hull until repaired....I wouldn't weld plates of steel over the bad spots either....that's only a temporary fix....I'm pretty sure you're going to have to have the hull repaired....sorry man....good luck...p.s. if you aren't going to pump out the water....i suggest you start packing QUICKLY

Answer 4

You could weld patches over the leaks, if I were you though I would have it hauled out, have the hull sandblasted have the leaks patched and then have the hull painted. If you plan on living aboard for the indefinite future you'll have to do it right sooner or later.

Answer 5

until you can get it outta water for a complete survey of the damage. Take a plastic tarp and run it around your hull under the boat and tie it off as best as you can.
Dont opt for a patch under water you should have it pull out to completely survey the damage and get it repaired.
Then have it soda blasted and painted with a good epoxy paint

Answer 6

The only way is to take it out of the water and take it to a shop to restore the hull. Sorry for the bad news.

Answer 7

as Niel Young said rust never sleeps.......and if there's foam on the inside its just going to keep rusting...

long term the only answer is cut out the bad and weld in new........short term you can only really stop leaks from the outside, where the water pressure is..so try and identify where the worst leak/leaks are, clean, as much as you can any bottom growth off the outside and smear the offending area with Pettit's Splash Zone....used to be known as underwater epoxy....its a pain to use......practice first!.....but it works. 2nd choice is hydraulic cement sets up underwater and the choice of big boat people..tankers, barges etc......once again practice with some before you get in the water.......


and yeah...try and paint aproduct called OSPHO anywhere there's rust..it will stop the rust process....for a while

Answer 8

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Answer 9

u need to take it out of the water to repair it by professionals how big is it it all depends on the size

Answer 10

u need to repair it with new steel plate welded to where bad part is (underwater welding) we do that here in Long Beach