Warn, find, seal: Ten gadgets for leak defence

• Bilge alarm
• Impeller pump
• Leak sealers
• Hatchet and cow foot
• Silicone strap
• Wrought metal
• Leak plug
• Emergency plug
• Sealing compound
• Underwater epoxy resin

Bilge alarm

If the water level rises below the floorboards, this device sounds the alarm so loudly that everyone on board knows that something is wrong. The race against time starts before it's too late

Impeller pump

The permanently installed emergency pump can be engaged at the push of a button and is then driven by the running boat engine. This enables a pumping capacity of more than 600 litres per minute

Leak sealers

Still new on the market is an inflatable air cushion called "Airbob". A line is attached to the batten pushed outwards through the leak, which is guided through the centre of the cushion and presses a counter plate onto it. It must rest around the leak

Hatchet and cow foot

In order to find the leak, fixtures have to be removed, and quickly at that. A hatchet and crowbar help immensely - also to expose the leak so that it can be sealed. A large saw and a veritable hammer should be added to this equipment. It is by no means an exaggeration to carry such seemingly brute tools even on small yachts

Silicone strap

The self-sealing "Rescue Tape" only adheres to itself, can be used on wet and dirty surfaces and forms an airtight and watertight seal. It is suitable for sealing pipes and hoses of all kinds, even under water

Wrought metal

The "Repair Stick" is a two-component compound made from paste-like epoxy resin. It is pre-dosed and mixes by kneading. It also seals a wide variety of materials under water >> available here .

Leak plug

The softwood plugs are sold as a set and come in different sizes, so you should not have just one set on board. The wood swells when it gets wet. It seals round openings with clean edges well >> available here .

Emergency plug

In contrast to its wooden counterpart, the "Sta-Plug", which is also available ribbed, is flexible and is therefore also suitable for openings with torn edges. The material can be cut to size >> available here .

Sealing compound

Wax-like compounds such as "Stay Afloat" or "Leak Hero" were already known as leak greases in traditional shipping and are ready for immediate use. They seal a wide variety of leaks in different materials within seconds. These sealants adhere to wood, GRP and metals even when water is flowing in and seal a wide variety of leaks. Easy to use even for non-professionals

Underwater epoxy resin

Repair kits for the production of epoxy resin laminate on wet substrates are available from various manufacturers. The set shown here contains two components. However, there are also ready-portioned epoxy mixtures for the same application

More on the topic:

• Leak detection: How to find and repair small leaks
• Searching, plugging, draining - how to seal leaks quickly