Prepping for Launch

[pkabel66]

I recently purchased and had delivered a 1984 Hunter 34. After polishing, cleaning, having the sails restitched, and cleaning the cabin, I am prepping for launch on July 3rd. Over the past 2 weeks while in the yard, I am noticing that my bilge is filling with water. We have had a good deal of rain.
There is not power directly available in the yard, and I am seeking solutions to:
1. Get the bilge powered and working to dry them out so I can finish cleaning.
2. Be Sure that my batteries are good to go and my engine is going to start when I launch. It's only been 3 weeks since the boat was last in the water and we had the sea trial.
Thank you in advance for any insights. i am a new owner and new to the forum.
Phil

 

[kloudie1]

Welcome ! Phil! The 34 is a fine boat !
Water.. the companionway slider would be my prime suspect. If the boat is not angled slightly down at the stern, rain will run inside and come down on the inboard edge of the sink and the space between the sink cabinet and the engine box. I have slightly enlarged the drains at the aft end of the companionway slider cover to help the water drain.. but it just won't draain uphill! Next would be leaking fixed portlights, and next would be the opening ports seal with the cabin sides. Check the cockpit skupper drain hoses, in the starboard cockpit locker, and the one in the aft cabin ceiling.
I don't have a dodger, so when I am not at boat, I put a small tarp over the companionway slide and a flotation cushion under the tarp to make the water drain to the cockpit instead of inside the cabin.
Again, Welcome!

 

[pkabel66]

Thank you. I took the dodger down for the trip here from where I bought the boat. I am cleaning it in my yard at home, and am going to take it to the boat tonight and reinstall it. Never would have given that one a thought. All great advice.
Now, how can I power my bilge pump while the boat is in the yard? Anyone else have an answer for me? Thank you.

 

[Nodak7]

Thank you. I took the dodger down for the trip here from where I bought the boat. I am cleaning it in my yard at home, and am going to take it to the boat tonight and reinstall it. Never would have given that one a thought. All great advice.
Now, how can I power my bilge pump while the boat is in the yard? Anyone else have an answer for me? Thank you.

pk, when I am working on our boat in the storage area I bring one of my batteries (normally the starter) and use that for lights and whatever. It will power your bilge quite nicely. Then when I leave I disconnect it until I return. If it will be an extended duration between visits I will take it home and charge it for my next return.

Good Luck!

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

Welcome Phil. I hope you enjoy your 34 as much as I have enjoyed mine for 13 years. It is a good boat, very forgiving and surprisingly fast. If you did sea trials less than 3 weeks ago the batteries were connected. Unless you disconnected them, your bilge pump should activate automatically (assuming you have an auto switch). If you disconnected them, reconnect them briefly and run the pump. Then disconnect again to avoid running the batteries down. Once launched, the batteries will need to stay connected so you need to have a way to recharge them while at the dock. Good luck and have a great summer. Don't hesitate to ask any question. There are a great bunch of guys here on the site and you'll get a lot of valuable info.

 

[Don Crowther]

Welcome Phil
Do you have 115 volt power where you have the boat? If so you could use a shop vac to suck up the water. Also if your batteries are still onboard you could turn on the master and the pump should start if it's auto. If not there should be a switch on the electric ac panel. If you have power you may have a charger wired into the system that will charge the batteries no worries about running them down then. It's a great boat enjoy.

 

[pkabel66]

Thank you Don

I was going to do the hand pump and bucket. But I do have a shop vac. Thank you both for your responses to my question. 2 weeks til launch. I have many helpers and I am grateful for their help as I am learning. Phil

 

[pkabel66]

Thank you Nodak7 and Claude L. Wish I was at my boat more in these weeks, but you know what keeps getting in the way? WORK! I appreciate you all for taking some time to write to me, and I hope that as I gain experience, I will be able to help the next person. I am sure I will be back with more questions as time goes by. Thank you all again.

 

[Nodak7]

Thank you Nodak7 and Claude L. Wish I was at my boat more in these weeks, but you know what keeps getting in the way? WORK! I appreciate you all for taking some time to write to me, and I hope that as I gain experience, I will be able to help the next person. I am sure I will be back with more questions as time goes by. Thank you all again.

One other item Pk I have a small 12v pump that I use when I want to get the water below the suction of the bilge pump. I think it was $30 or so but it works great. I then use a sponge if I want to get it really dry.

I have the one from Harbor Freight but the one from Amazon would probably work for half the price.

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-volt-marine-utility-pump-9576.html

http://www.amazon.com/submersible-Water-Cooling-Small-System/dp/B002PBWIR0

 

[kloudie1]

H-34 Bilge Pump

Ya welcome, Phil..
On mine, the bilge pump is hooked up "hot" to the #1 Batt terminal on the "Off, #1, Both, #2" batt switch .(not switched, always hot) . That is the wire that powers it through the float switch in the bilge. In this picture, you can see the red/brown pair from the pump coming the switch in the engine box. Make sure ya put a proper fuse in the hot line where it leaves the batt switch. There is another bilge pump switch on the 12V panel that bypasses the float switch and turns the pump on. This one is powered from the 12V buss behind the panel which is powered from the switched side of the battery switch.

 

[pkabel66]

Thanks from Club Members

The greatest thing about belonging to a club is the willingness of the members to help each other out. A veteran member came aboard, and we found a broken wire. Imagine that! a quick wire change out, and we are back to working bilge pump again.
Thank you everyone for letting me post here and all the great input.