If water enters uncontrollably due to collision damage or hull leaks, every minute counts at sea. In such high-pressure situations, the correct response often determines whether the ship can be saved or the crew survives. However, traditional wooden or foam plugs quickly reach their limits when dealing with irregular breaks or hard-to-reach areas in the hull.
Using gas pressure to counteract the inflow of water
The System The Leak Stop Gun S (LSG) works on the same principle as a balloon. In the event of a leak, a special sealing balloon is positioned over the leak and inflated using a CO₂ cartridge. According to the manufacturer, the device is ready for use in a matter of seconds once the protective cap has been removed and the safety lever released. Important: To ensure rapid inflation, it is advisable to assemble the unit beforehand. The CO₂ cartridge should therefore already be connected. The balloon is made of EPDM elastomers and is designed to mould itself to the damaged area under pressure. The balloon’s material is resistant to acids, alkalis and fuels. When inflated, the working pressure is between 1.9 and 2 bar. The S model is available on request from the Leak Stop Gun online shop for 999 euros.
Technical specifications and flexibility in the fuselage
The housing is made from stainless steel, aluminium and brass, weighs around 0.7 kilograms and measures 260 x 85 x 170 millimetres. This should mean it fits into most storage lockers. The model comes as standard with the ‘LSG 150’ balloon for leak sizes ranging from 50 to 130 millimetres. The optional Flextube extension system – a separate hose with metal couplings – allows the gun to be used in hard-to-reach areas. With the aid of an adapter, the larger “LSG 400” balloon can also be fitted, extending the range of application to hull openings of 120 to 350 millimetres. According to the company, the system has been successfully tested at water depths of up to 20 metres and is designed for temperatures ranging from -15 to 100 degrees Celsius.
Reusability and more complex system variants
The Leak Stop Gun is a reusable device. Whilst the balloons can be inflated several times for training purposes, a new sealing balloon must be used after every real-life emergency for safety reasons. After use, the system requires a visual inspection, cleaning and the greasing of moving parts. The CO₂ pressure cylinders can also be refilled. In addition to the S version For commercial use by fire services or in industry, there are also the heavier “LSG 150” (weighing 6 kg) and the “LSG 400” (weighing 11 kg), which is designed for damage up to 350 millimetres and is intended to withstand a water column of 7 metres.
Alternatives
There are a number of tried-and-tested methods for standard leak-stopping and damage control on board a yacht Alternatives and equipment. Alongside traditional softwood leak plugs in various sizes, flexible plastic emergency plugs such as the ‘Sta-Plug’ are increasingly being used; these are also suitable for irregular or torn hull openings and can be cut to size. A recent development on the market is the ‘Airbob’ inflatable air cushion system, which is pressed against the hull wall from the outside using a line and a counterplate.
For minor leaks, damaged pipes or hoses, ready-to-use, wax-like sealants such as ‘Stay Afloat’ are ideal, as they adhere to wood, GRP and metal even when water is flowing in. The emergency kit is supplemented by self-fusing silicone tape for hoses, as well as two-component malleable metal and special underwater epoxy resins, which form a watertight seal directly on wet surfaces. To ensure you can even reach the damaged area in an emergency, you should also have heavy-duty tools such as a hatchet, crowbar, saw and hammer on board to remove obstructing fixtures as quickly as possible.
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Technical specifications:
- Dimensions: 260 x 85 x 170 mm
- Weight: approx. 0.7 kg
- Case material: Stainless steel, aluminium, brass
- Standard leak size: 50 to 130 mm (with the standard ‘LSG 150’ balloon)
- Extended leak size: 120 to 350 mm (in combination with the Flextube system and the ‘LSG 400’ balloon)
- Working pressure of the balloon: 1.9 to 2 bar
- Temperature range: from -15° to 95/100° C
David Ingelfinger
Volontär
