Hunter 23 leaks and cabin wood

[DanFleig]

I recently purchased a new "to me" H23, that's in pretty good shape except for the cabin sole. The Boat seems to have an issue taking on water and the wood cabin sole has completely fallen apart.

As far as the leak is concerned. it seems to be caused by water coming in during heavy rains. I've removed the wooden cabin sole and over a couple of dry days don't see any leakage around the keel bolts. Unfortunately after heavy rains there's a lot of water in the boat. From what I can tell the majority keeps coming in through the weep hole in the last bilge before the forward compartment. I'm pretty sure that's routing water from under the cockpit area forward. Can anyone confirm? also, can anyone give advice on how to stop this or slow the rainwater leakage down? I'm considering putting a bilge pump back there, but am hesitant about drilling another through-hull. Thoughts?

As for my ruined wood, any idea where I can replace it? Is there perhaps a good looking material that would be more resilient to water?

I appreciate any help you all can offer me!

Dan

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Dan;

First, look under lumber holes and see my post. In addition, go under search and check the archives as much has been discussed on this issue. In addition, go to boat information, click on 23 and then on downloads for information to include owners manual on the boat. After that, come back to this thread and see what else has been posted.
Feel free to contact me via forum email and I will help. I am a former dealer and well versed along a few others on this boat.

crazy dave condon

 

[carboman]

If it helps, have a look at my photo album under my profile. You can see where I cut my floor out just forward of the step going into the cabin. Also can see where I sealed the port and starboard chain plate covers. I had serious leaking when my chain plates were not sealed. West marine brand silicone for sure or any 100% silicone. Apply liberaly.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Dan;

IN the forward V Berth, there is a triangular panel that is screwed in. Remove the screws and pull that out. May be difficult as it can be squeezed in there. Remove the foam block and look at the drain hose from the anchor well and chain plate. Suggest having someone hose that area down to see if any leakes occurring there. I should have paid a little more attention but start there. If in the forward storage lockers, that is generally where the water is coming in that area.

 

[DanFleig]

Crazy Dave,

Thanks for the info on looking over your other post. I won't be able to get back out to my boat until this weekend, but I'm thinking that the hose that leads from my cockpit drain to the through hull underneath may be my culprit. It occurred to me that after every hard rain there seems to be a lot of water down there for me to pump out. I'll have to crawl down there and inspect it (that won't be a lot of fun). I'm pretty sure there's a hole weep hole there that leads to the main bilges in the cabin.

As for the anchor locker hose, i was able to check that last weekend. There's no wood blocking access to it in my '85, Guess that's another piece to replace after I seal the leaks. Doesn't look like anything is leaking there, and my forward bilges seem to be dry.

I'll let you all know what I find

Does anyone know how thick the cabin sole is? I'm looking at sheets of wood and am thinking that 1/4 inch should do the trick. Thoughts?

Carboman,

Appreciate of the pics showing how you sealed the chain plate. I'm not convinced mine is leaking too much in the cabin, but when I pull her this winter and do my repairs I'll look into sealing them.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Dan;

Again, I am going to ask a question or two. I assume the boat is in the water based on your response. First advise if there is a weep hole in the rear storage locker going forward into the cabin or not. Bail out all water as best as possible. does it remain dry?
After it rains, do you find the water then. I would still have someone take a hose over the anchor locker and fittings just to be sure. Advise after you have an opportunity to check the rear cockpit drain hose. Also, see if the gudgeons particularly the lower one on the transom are tight with no water penetration.

 

[isaksp00]

Definitely check the cockpit drain hose. It is tight but not all that bad to get down there. I have had the drain clog, water fill the cockpit enough to leak through the access port in the gas tank locker area. I am pretty sure that water down there can leak under the bulkhead that forms the forward end of that lazarette area, and then I assume under the floor below the cabin entryway, and then into the keel bolt pans. There is also a hole (in mine at least) on the stbd side into the storage locker that is furthest aft, under the stbd quarter berth, and I have found water there.

I used butyl rubber to reseal my chain plate covers, so far I think it is sound as the chain plate bulkheads have seemed to stay dry. One of them is new, as the old one rotted and cracked.

 

[DanFleig]

All,

Just a final update on this one. I ended up replacing the anchor locker drain hose, it was cracked and leaking. Unfortunately, that didn't entirely stop the problem. I knew that I had a small leak from both of my cracked windows (currently searching for a good supplier of Lexan in MD), but I just didn't think it could account for the water build up over some short periods of time.

I pulled the boat a couple of weeks ago, and decided to hang out in the cabin when a good rainstorm was coming through. Apparently there's a a good amount of water coming in at the back of the plexiglass cabin cover. Furthermore, there's water coming in my companion way door because of the odd gap at the top.

I appreciate all of your help!

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Dan;

Here is the best way to find topside leaks which will require another person and a few items to include plastic, tape and a bucket or good soapy water with brush and garden hose. Forgot the leaf blower.

You want to pressurize the cabin to force air out which is the key as where air escapes, water will penetrate. Close off opening ports and tape around the where it closes. This includes the forward hatch. Then take a large piece of plastic taping it to the entire companionway. Put a slit in it just big enough to insert a leaf blower and tape around it. Then start it and let the other person brush all fittings, rub rail and so on and where you see air bubbles coming out, then that is a source of leakage. Usually the wire chain plates, anchor well, screw/bolt attachment areas of lockers and so on were culprits. Hope this helps.

 

[DanFleig]

Great idea, As you can probably tell, I've got my hands full this winter!

Dan Fleig

 

[Brian M H23]

Dan, you'd do well to replace the back "stop" of the cabin hatch. It screws into the plexi with a few screws that go up from inside the cabin. Also, pitching the nose "up" while parked.

 

[JourneyToIthaka]

I have the same problem with my H23, I do not have the sailing lingo down. I believe the lazzerette is the seat on the aft/port side of my boat.
I would suspect the water would come down the anchor storage locker as there doesn't seem to be any way to stop water through the openings.
So my question is... I see a hose through the forward berth. And that hose connects to the drain in the anchor locker?
The hose then follows through my boat and out- where?
According to the amount of water I would say... my battery hold in the rear port side lazzerette. But I do not see a hose ending there.
And it is believed that if I have the hose replaced it will drain properly out of my boat when it rains?
This is all rain water. Not sea. It is stored in dry dock. Out in the open.
I am concerned because I wouldn't want to put it in the water and have it sink!
Please reply to me at txwallbed@hotmaildotcom ( phishing prevents me from a proper email).

 

[Kermit]

The hose from the anchor locker should drain to a thru-hull fitting on the starboard bow. There is no reason I know of that the hose should go anywhere else. But wherever it goes, replace it with a new one and make sure it takes the water out of the boat. Nowhere else.

 

[DanFleig]

JourneyTolthaka,

If you're getting a lot of water in your batter compartment it's possible that the hose that leads from the cockpit to the stern drain is leaking. As Isakp00 recommended earlier, it's very important to be sure those hoses are in good shape/not leaking.

Easiest way to check this is to run a hose into the cockpit drain, and look into your battery locket to see if you see any leaking.

Dan Fleig
1985 Hunter 23

 

[isaksp00]

The lazarette is actually the storage area under the seat that opens, not the seat itself - but I am being pedantic.

That said, I cannot picture how any setup where the hose that comes out of the drain in the anchor locker in the bow and is NOT routed out the through-hull (the one near the bow above the water line) could work. If that hose goes down to the bottom of the hull in the area forward of the v-berth, the water would have to drain into the compartments under the v-berth cushions and then (assuming you have weep holes) into the area above the keel (under the main salon floorboards) and then maybe (depending on boat angle on your trailer) into the lazarette under the cockpit - where your battery probably is. If a prior owner modified it that way, the only reason I can think of is if they thought that a bilge pump would be useful to pump it out - if you have one.

With the boat in the water, any rain or spray into the anchor locker would then have to end up at the lowest point, probably that above the keel. I would not rely on a battery powered (or any powered) bilge pump as the way to exhaust that. Before you float her, I would absolutely re-attach the anchor locker hose to the proper through hull and ideally use double hose clamps at both ends.

You can just make out where that through-hull is in this owner photo, just aft of the lower trailer bumper.
http://sbo.sailboatowners.com/index...70&page=sshow&mn=23&catid=52&use_brand=Hunter

 

[JourneyToIthaka]

Thank you very much for the information.
How does she sail? I am in the process of sealing, priming and painting the bottom/keel. I purchased it as it sits and haven't had any experience sailing this model.

 

[Kermit]

Thank you very much for the information. How does she sail? I am in the process of sealing, priming and painting the bottom/keel. I purchased it as it sits and haven't had any experience sailing this model.

Extremely good-sailing boat. Lots of fun and easy to maneuver. I hope you'll get to sail it sooner than later. Have fun!

 

[JourneyToIthaka]

What is the cabin sole?

 

[DanFleig]

It's the wood flooring inside the boat. My wood wasn't in great shape when got my boat and then I had some rainwater issues. I hope to replace it this spring before I splash her again.

 

[JourneyToIthaka]

Ahhh makes sense, thank you.