Waterproofing Maintenance (Hull)
There should be no need to carry out any waterproofing maintenance of the hull. This is not to say that you won’t occasionally get a very small amount of water into the hull ? you will and this is not a problem ? see ?Draining the Hull’ for advice about how to remove water from the hull.
There are only a few ways water can enter the hull.
The first way is through the small breathing/drain hole in the transom of the Laser. No plug is fitted or required for this hole and only miniscule amounts of water, if any, will enter through this hole.
The second potential water path is through the deck plate. This plate is sealed on with a compound that should never need replacement or maintenance unless you remove the plate. There is however no reason to ever remove this plate. We recommend that you do not remove it.
There are no holes in the cockpit floor or walls and hence water cannot enter the hull from the cockpit area.
The only other water paths are the 2 screws in the bow roller, the brass mainsheet screw-eye and the screw in the tiller. See the article ?Hull Leaks’ for some tips about how to detect the source of leaks at these locations. As mentioned above, any leak in the hull is almost certainly inconsequential however a smear of silicon around the screw location should eliminate it.
Draining the Hull
If you have not discovered it already you will find a small breathing/drain hole in the transom of the Laser.
No plug is fitted or required. Very little water gets into the hull through this hole but it is worthwhile tilting the hull on its stern after each outing to drain away any water that may be present. Evacuation can be assisted by gently squeezing the hull with a pump-like action. This may seem to defy the laws of physics but it does work ? one of the wonders of the polyethylene material and the blow moulding technique used to form it. Do not shake the hull with any vigour – there is a chance you could do more damage than good.
NB : Dealing with water in the cockpit (battery/servo compartment) is another matter ? the advice above refers only to water in the hull itself.