Hunter 33 Engine Pan Rain Leak

[mgtomasic]

I have a 2007 Hunter 33 which has a rain leak into the engine pan.

The water rises in the engine pan until it is about 1 inch deep, as a lip prevents water depth less than 1 inch from draining intro the bilge system. After the pan fills up above 1 inch, the water above 1 inch drains into the bilge system.

This water only accumulates after a rain. If it does not rain, no water accumulates, so the water is from rain, not some other problem.

I have tried 2 times to simulate rain using a hose, to no avail, not being able to find out where the water is entering and leaking from which ultimately fills up the engine pan.

I am seeking a Hunter 33 owner who has experienced this same engine pan rain water leak problem, to let me know where they found the rain water leaking from.

Mike Hunter 33 Rain Leak

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Engine pan? You have water inside the engine pan in the oil reserve? Or are you talking about the area beneath the engine between the motor bearers?

 

[onecoolair]

I have a 2007 Hunter 33 which has a rain leak into the engine pan.

The water rises in the engine pan until it is about 1 inch deep, as a lip prevents water depth less than 1 inch from draining intro the bilge system. After the pan fills up above 1 inch, the water above 1 inch drains into the bilge system.

This water only accumulates after a rain. If it does not rain, no water accumulates, so the water is from rain, not some other problem.

I have tried 2 times to simulate rain using a hose, to no avail, not being able to find out where the water is entering and leaking from which ultimately fills up the engine pan.

I am seeking a Hunter 33 owner who has experienced this same engine pan rain water leak problem, to let me know where they found the rain water leaking from.

Mike Hunter 33 Rain Leak

Weather it be H33 , H356, H40,H40.5,H34 the pan below the shaft seal transmission coupling and the separate pan directly under the engine are all basically the same design . The safety oil collection pan directly under engine does not drain to bilge at all. But then pan behind engine that is under the shaft seal and transmission coupling does have a weep hole to bilge. What is probably happening is you have a leaking hatch on the stern swim plat form or a leak around the rudder shaft, a bolt hole on base of stern rail,base of arch From top of arch rain water getting inside tubing from traveler bar and coming down the side of arch were all the electrical cable are run.( On Mine the hole is is quite large almost the diameter of the tubing.) Could be just about anywhere from the stern of boat. What is happening is the rain is coming in from this area and then running thru bulkhead at a lower opening around some hoses going thru the rear bulk head . Then draining toward the pan under transmission coupling before draining thru weep holes to bilge. I had this same thing happen along time ago ... It was a bad gasket seal on one of the rear stern swim plat form storage hatch lids. You want a good seal here anyway because of engine exhaust fumes and the station waggoning effect at rear of boat while under way. I would also try and lower or enlarge weep holes both on the port and starboard side of shaft seal pan. This will keep shafts seal pan or first pan from filling up to the brim and over flowing into the actual engine pan which is why you are getting water under the engine it self. Just be-careful not drill hole in boat.

 

[mgtomasic]

Engine pan? You have water inside the engine pan in the oil reserve? Or are you talking about the area beneath the engine between the motor bearers?

Barnacle Bill, thanks for your question.

By engine pan, I am referring to the pan below the engine, which drains to the bilge pump, after the water is above the 1 inch lip.

The rain water is not entering the engine, or in the oil reserve, which never overflows to the bilge pump.

Mike Hunter 33 Rain Leak

 

[JoeWhite]

I had a similar problem for a few years and I could not find the source. I accidentally found the source and it was the scupper hose that had a 1/2" slice in it near the scupper. I cut the hose about an inch and reinserted it. Now I have dry bilge.

 

[mgtomasic]

Mike Engine Pan Rain Leak

Robert,

Thank you very much.

I think the top of the traveler is a great place to start, since I did not think of water entering
that high on the traveler.

Mike Hunter 33 Rain Leak

mgtomasic@gamil.com

---------------------------------

Weather it be H33 , H356, H40,H40.5,H34 the pan below the shaft seal transmission coupling and the separate pan directly under the engine are all basically the same design . The safety oil collection pan directly under engine does not drain to bilge at all. But then pan behind engine that is under the shaft seal and transmission coupling does have a weep hole to bilge. What is probably happening is you have a leaking hatch on the stern swim plat form or a leak around the rudder shaft, a bolt hole on base of stern rail,base of arch From top of arch rain water getting inside tubing from traveler bar and coming down the side of arch were all the electrical cable are run.( On Mine the hole is is quite large almost the diameter of the tubing.) Could be just about anywhere from the stern of boat. What is happening is the rain is coming in from this area and then running thru bulkhead at a lower opening around some hoses going thru the rear bulk head . Then draining toward the pan under transmission coupling before draining thru weep holes to bilge. I had this same thing happen along time ago ... It was a bad gasket seal on one of the rear stern swim plat form storage hatch lids. You want a good seal here anyway because of engine exhaust fumes and the station waggoning effect at rear of boat while under way. I would also try and lower or enlarge weep holes both on the port and starboard side of shaft seal pan. This will keep shafts seal pan or first pan from filling up to the brim and over flowing into the actual engine pan which is why you are getting water under the engine it self. Just be-careful not drill hole in boat.

 

[Scott B]

Are you getting water in the bildge at the same time?

Does the area under the packing gland have water?

There should be water under the shaft at the same time if it is coming from somewhere aft like the arch I think? Otherwise not sure how water would get into the pan under the engine from aft if everything else dry. Pan under engine slopes forward, area under shaft tilts aft.

 

[Steve Dion]

Mike: I would suggest that you spend some time down on your boat during a good rain storm.

Do you have a cover for your companionway?

 

[onecoolair]

Are you getting water in the bildge at the same time?

Does the area under the packing gland have water?

There should be water under the shaft at the same time if it is coming from somewhere aft like the arch I think? Otherwise not sure how water would get into the pan under the engine from aft if everything else dry. Pan under engine slopes forward, area under shaft tilts aft.

Scott .... He has leak somewhere in the back of his boat. It is either a bad gasket seal on the stern swim storage locker hatches or around one of the bases of the stern rail . Could also be coming from top of of the arch traveler bar and running down either side of arch..... And could even be at the hull to deck joint somewhere back there... The rain water runs toward center line of boat and then forward to pan space under the shaft seal and shaft transmission coupling .. The shaft seal pan area is before the oil pan under the engine ....there is a dam or separator between the two pans. The weep holes in the area under the shaft seal pan are not big enough nor low enough in this first pan to allow good drainage to the main bilge. Thus first pan fills up and then splashes or spills over into the pan directly under engine. Don't ask me how I know this .

 

[Scott B]

Scott .... He has leak somewhere in the back of his boat. It is either a bad gasket seal on the stern swim storage locker hatches or around one of the bases of the stern rail . Could also be coming from top of of the arch traveler bar and running down either side of arch..... And could even be at the hull to deck joint somewhere back there... The rain water runs toward center line of boat and then forward to pan space under the shaft seal and shaft transmission coupling .. The shaft seal pan area is before the oil pan under the engine ....there is a dam or separator between the two pans. The weep holes in the area under the shaft seal pan are not big enough nor low enough in this first pan to allow good drainage to the main bilge. Thus first pan fills up and then splashes or spills over into the pan directly under engine. Don't ask me how I know this .

So far he's only said water was under engine in oil catch pan. I was trying to determine if he'd seen water in any other locations.

I have the exact same boat. I don't recall a divider between the oil tray and the area under the shaft seal. I thought they just sloped in opposite directions. Oil to bow and shaft to stern.

 

[onecoolair]

So far he's only said water was under engine in oil catch pan. I was trying to determine if he'd seen water in any other locations.

I have the exact same boat. I don't recall a divider between the oil tray and the area under the shaft seal. I thought they just sloped in opposite directions. Oil to bow and shaft to stern.

Yes I know his description of his problem was little confusing at first till I analyzed each part of his statement. First clue was the 1 inch of water depth before it reached the weep hole so water could drain to bilge Or spill over lip. There should be no weep holes in pan under engine to allow oil to drain to bilge. This told me that he was talking about the shallow pan area that had to be under the shaft seal or transmission coupling. Then this told me He had to mean this area was filling up first with about 1" of water first before spilling over the lip between the two areas... then the rain water was showing up under the engine it's self.

 

[mgtomasic]

Hunter 33 Engine Pan Rain Leak/ Add Info & Thx

Additional Info per engine pan rain leak.

First of all, thank you all for all of your very constructive and useful suggestions.

The water is only showing up under the engine, not in the shaft toward the stern, or in the bilge area toward the bow. In my Hunter 33, after about an inch of water in the pan under the engine, the water does flow toward the bow, where the bilge pump empties it out.

The water is not entering the engine pan area from the stern shaft area, as the shaft recession has a small amount of water, but not enough to overflow forward toward the under engine pan.

Again, I not not have any water showing up anywhere else on the boat to my knowledge.

When I tested with the hose twice, I did not consider water entering at the top of the traveler, and running down inside the traveler to the engine pan area. So I will now test the top of the arch traveler which was a very useful suggestion.

Thanks everyone again, Mike Hunter 33 Rain Leak

Original post:

I have a 2007 Hunter 33 which has a rain leak into the engine pan.

The water rises in the engine pan until it is about 1 inch deep, as a lip prevents water depth less than 1 inch from draining intro the bilge system. After the pan fills up above 1 inch, the water above 1 inch drains into the bilge system.

This water only accumulates after a rain. If it does not rain, no water accumulates, so the water is from rain, not some other problem.

I have tried 2 times to simulate rain using a hose, to no avail, not being able to find out where the water is entering and leaking from which ultimately fills up the engine pan.

I am seeking a Hunter 33 owner who has experienced this same engine pan rain water leak problem, to let me know where they found the rain water leaking from.

Mike Hunter 33 Rain Leak

 

[Scott B]

I'm thinking it would not be the traveller or arch. The water would show up at the base plates on the arch which is above the aft cabin, and the cockpit locker under the seat. The water would not be able to get under the engine without showing up somewhere else.

Do you have a dodger and / or enclosure? Water must? be getting in around the hatch or sliding cover?

Look for signs of water above the engine somwhere that would be dripping down into the pan.

Hard to offer suggestions without being on the baot ( which is 2 hours away ) and visuallizing where it could be coming from.

 

[onecoolair]

And the mystery continues...

I'm thinking it would not be the traveller or arch. The water would show up at the base plates on the arch which is above the aft cabin, and the cockpit locker under the seat. The water would not be able to get under the engine without showing up somewhere else.

Do you have a dodger and / or enclosure? Water must? be getting in around the hatch or sliding cover?

Look for signs of water above the engine somwhere that would be dripping down into the pan.

Hard to offer suggestions without being on the baot ( which is 2 hours away ) and visuallizing where it could be coming from.

And the mystery continues...
Here something to thing about...... When my water heater tank failed the water because of were and how the tank was mounted water was able to directly run into oil pan directly under engine, what did not run that direction sat as puddle and soaked the bottom of bulkhead in front of water heater under bed and ruined the teak and holly floor panel as well as sub-floor. When replacing the water heater I had to drill numerous weep holes in shelf for w.h. as well as glue down a piece of rubber casket to create a damn to prevent water from draining into oil pan and instead directly drain it to the bilge.
So your leak must be from above either on the starboard or port side along w/ lets not forget the companionway. And not so much at the stern. Possibilities ? Arch base,Stanchions,lead block mounted on side of cockpit,Furling line cleat,Spinnaker block near base of arch,Gap at bottom of port hole under the frame trim,Under Rubber Rail missing sealant at hull to deck joint,Bottom of companionway hatch boards track,Do you have snap screws for a dodger, dodger frame screws. Next a high possibility is the sheet line bin holders. Check the screw holes for these bins on each side of companionway. Ask me how I know this, which is another issue I had early on...Screw holes were stripped out and lose.
I had terrific dealer support so that helped me out a lot. The factory missed a lot of stupid stuff on my boat and it took dealer nearly a year trying their best to make things right.

 

[onecoolair]

Re: And the mystery continues...

Mike ...I just realize do you the have the sail drive unit with the engine mounted backwards?

 

[Scott B]

Mike ...I just realize do you the have the sail drive unit with the engine mounted backwards?

Nope, not until e33

 

[tomgrigsby]

on my 79 H30, I've found water in the pan a few times. It was coming in around the companionway hatch boards, dripping on the countertop/step and down the engine to the pan. Not a great picture, but you can see the hinged access lid for looking in at the engine. I was shocked the first time I found water in the pan.

 

[lbd]

Water accumulation

Hi, Late response but may assist. My 2004 33 managed to accumulate water between sub floor and hull primarily under galley and slightly forward. Moulded / cut weep holes in sub floor 1" above hull meant water was retained rather than drain into bilge. To solve filed holes lower to hull level allowing water to drain. Similar under plastic engine pan. Was a nice reservoir between pan and hull courtesy of drive shaft drip. Removed screws holding pan allowing it to be pushed aft to expose hull. Cannot remove pan as I suspect it was installed prior to engine being installed. Similar extending of weep holes and removal of excess resin / fibreglass allows water to take it's intended course. I have a much drier boat now.