Lost Water ballast valve in Hunter 23.5 help me please

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andrewH235

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Sep 6, 2024
6
Hunter 23.5 La spezia
good morning to all sailors,
my name is Andrea and I am writing from Italy, last summer I bought a Hunter 23.5.
I recently realized that I lost the water ballast cap... I ask you if you can help me, if any of you have the measurements of the original cap or technical drawings, so that I can have a new one made in some mechanical workshop in my area, I thank you in advance
 
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Art12050

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Jan 22, 2008
76
Hunter 30_88-94 Ipswich, Ma MA
Salve Andrea…come va?
Try going to the Hunter Owners website @hunter.sailboatowners.com. There are technical advisors on that site that worked for Hunter. Probabilmente possono aiutarti. Buona fortuna.
 
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Crazy Dave Condon

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Jun 8, 2004
10,237
-na -NA Anywhere USA
@andrewH235

I am a former dealer who gave Hunter Marine the original plans to Hunter what became the 23.5. I am not sure exactly what is missing. When you open the lid or step, there are two items. The first is a large wing nut and washer. The washer has a rubber gasket on it. The wing nut is attached to a threaded rod that opens or closes the water ballast tank.

the second item is an adjustable drain bail plug that allows air to enter or escapes the water ballast tank.

please take a photo so I know what you need I will check with this forum store if they have the part for you and advise. This store has the complete list of parts list for your boat
Dave condon
 
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andrewH235

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Sep 6, 2024
6
Hunter 23.5 La spezia
good morning and thanks to all of you for the answers.
Sorry but I expressed myself badly, I didn't lose the vent cap but the plate under the hull that closes the holes where the water enters the tanks, came off the threaded rod.
thanks to @twalker H260 for the technical drawing of the H260, but I would like to be sure that the measurements are also good for the 23.5 for example the rod (20 3/8") it seems to me that in the 23.5 it is shorter... does anyone know exactly?
 

Attachments

dLj

dLj

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Mar 23, 2017
3,687
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
I would doubt you are going to find that part available for purchase. I'd recommend you rebuild that mechanism. It looks like a pretty straight forward part. You should be able to check on your boat if the dimensions listed in the above drawing apply to your boat. Just look for the spacing between the threaded rod and the 1/4" anti-rotation rod. If that spacing is the 2 3/16" shown, then your plate will likely be the same size as the 6" (152.4mm) diameter shown.

That 1/2" rod will be just undersized from a 13mm rod. I'd check to see if a 14 mm rod would work With a 14mm rod, you can easily reuse that top wing nut by simply re-tapping that hole with a M14 tap. You might have to open it up a bit with the proper drill bit for the M14.

Let's see, 1/2" = 12.7mm. 14mm -12.7 mm = 1.3mm. That's 0.65mm on each side or 0.026" or a bit under 1/32" clearance. I would not be surprised if you have enough clearance in that hole used by the 1/2" rod to use a 14mm rod. But of course, you'd have to check. You could go to a 13mm rod, but then you might have to build a new top wing nut - that you'd have to see if a 13mm tap (not a common size) still gave you enough thread engagement.

I would hesitate to re-use that top rod.

You then have the anti-rotation pin listed as 1/4" (6.35mm) by 3" (76.2mm). I'd go to a 6.5mm rod - check to be sure it fits and also check if the 3" (76 mm) is correct. (Don't get hung up on decimals...)

Good luck.

dj
 
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andrewH235

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Sep 6, 2024
6
Hunter 23.5 La spezia
yes you're right @dLj , but I'm not sure where it broke, if at the point where the plate was attached or higher up... the measurement of my bar is about 17" instead in the technical drawing sent by @twalker H260 the measurement is 20 3/8"
 
dLj

dLj

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Mar 23, 2017
3,687
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
andrewH235 said:
yes you're right @dLj , but I'm not sure where it broke, if at the point where the plate was attached or higher up... the measurement of my bar is about 17" instead in the technical drawing sent by @twalker H260 the measurement is 20 3/8"
Click to expand
So simply put the rod in the boat and see if it sticks out the bottom. If it doesn't - measure how much is missing. If it doesn't stick out, you may need to stick a short dowel in from the underside and measure how much more is needed. If your boat is sitting on the bottom and you can't access where it sticks out, just take a dowel or rod of some kind and drop it down that hole and measure how long that is.

But the broken end sure looks like what was attached to the plate. But it's very easy to check....

dj

p.s. You are going to need to access the bottom to check the hole placements to make sure that plate drawing is correct for your boat. You should do that before you get a plate made...
 
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Crazy Dave Condon

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Jun 8, 2004
10,237
-na -NA Anywhere USA
@dLj
Very difficult to push down rod through the proper hole in bottom of the hull. The store does sell that part. I will see if it is available and cost.
@andrewH235
Thanks for the pictures. I will inquire for you and advise.
@LloydB
Thank you for the referral of attachment 227321 but could not open it. Is it the actual part number?

the rod is welded circular piece which has a projection to keep the plate from moving along with a neoprene gasket. That plate broke off and would be difficult to replace that part
 
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dLj

dLj

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Mar 23, 2017
3,687
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
Crazy Dave Condon said:
Very difficult to push down rod through the proper hole in bottom of the hull.
Click to expand
This does not make any sense. How would you installed the part if its difficult to push through the proper hole?

dj
 
dLj

dLj

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Mar 23, 2017
3,687
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
Crazy Dave Condon said:
I know the part plus I was involved with the design of the hunter water ballast sailboats.
Click to expand
Yes, I know - you may not remember, we met in Annapolis a few years ago. That's why I'm asking you.

What makes it difficult?

dj
 
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Crazy Dave Condon

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Jun 8, 2004
10,237
-na -NA Anywhere USA
If memory serves me right, there are six holes in the hull four of which are large for water entering, one for the rod welded to a plate and the sixth hole for a small/shorter rod to keep the plate from spinning when tightening while closing the valve. @dLj
I have a phone call in to the store.
 
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dLj

dLj

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Mar 23, 2017
3,687
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
Crazy Dave Condon said:
If memory serves me right, there are six holes in the hull four of which are large for water entering, one for the rod welded to a plate and the sixth hole for a small/shorter rod to keep the plate from spinning when tightening while closing the valve. @dLj
I have a phone call in to the store.
Click to expand
That would agree with the drawings provided above. But the size of those holes are quite distinct. Should be pretty easy to know which is which.

My original post had in mind not going from the bottom, but rather going from the top as that rod is now free to be inserted from the top down. It sure looks like that rod broke right where the plate was welded to it, but checking that would be advisable.

dj
 
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Crazy Dave Condon

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Jun 8, 2004
10,237
-na -NA Anywhere USA
@dLj and @andrewH235

The only way is through the hull leaving the wingnut off due to design and experience.

The part is called Water Ballast Valve
Part number 829818 which is stainless steel.
It is for the Hunter 23.5.
Cost is $255.85 USD w/o shipping
It would take two weeks to build

I am very private as to my contributions to this industry and close friends included Warren Luhrs, Annette Roux and Frank Butler.
 
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