Hunter 26 - water under inspection port
- Thread starter Clay W
- Start date
What is the inspection port for and where is the tank located? Welcome to the forum!
Assuming this is located near the galley what your looking at through the inspection port is the top of the ballast tank. There are 4 possible sources that we’ve had on our boat. - in no particular order (we had a 5th on our boat - but doesn’t apply to the 26. )
1. Mast compression post - could be rain or a leak from the base where it fits to the hull for the keel line to pass trough.
2. Under companion way step where ballast tank vent and fill valve rod/nut are located - either of these can leak/seep
check 1&2 hull/base areas when you have a full load of gear and guests - your boat is likely to be sitting its lowest in the water under those conditions.
3&4 - sink drains/fresh water supply to head and galley sinks.
if it was a 260
5. Water tank in bow
you may also want to remove the screws to the inspection port and check their length. If full length/longer screws they may have penetrated the top of the ballast tank.
Lower “tower” is the ballast tank fill controls that locates under the step. Believe your “inspection port is just to the right? (There is an additional fibreglass panel over this component which makes up the cabin sole.)
1. Mast compression post - could be rain or a leak from the base where it fits to the hull for the keel line to pass trough.
2. Under companion way step where ballast tank vent and fill valve rod/nut are located - either of these can leak/seep
check 1&2 hull/base areas when you have a full load of gear and guests - your boat is likely to be sitting its lowest in the water under those conditions.
3&4 - sink drains/fresh water supply to head and galley sinks.
if it was a 260
5. Water tank in bow
you may also want to remove the screws to the inspection port and check their length. If full length/longer screws they may have penetrated the top of the ballast tank.
Lower “tower” is the ballast tank fill controls that locates under the step. Believe your “inspection port is just to the right? (There is an additional fibreglass panel over this component which makes up the cabin sole.)
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We were on a floating dock at one point. The rub rail on the dock was at just the right height to loosen the nut on the through hull for the sink drain. Wave action and rain running down the side of the hull would collect in the bilge.
Not as much as what you seem to have but something to check, nevertheless.
Rick
Thank you for helping. I wonder if his boat was damaged by the hurricane as he is in Florida. If he calls , I will keep you in the loop.
Dave
Thank you for helping. I wonder if his boat was damaged by the hurricane as he is in Florida. If he calls , I will keep you in the loop.
Dave
This port is in the interior deck, adjacent to the companionway ladder, starboard side.What is the inspection port for and where is the tank located? Welcome to the forum!
This port is in the interior deck, adjacent to the companionway ladder, starboard side.
Yes, she rode out hurricane Helene, but I don't believe she sustained anything beyond cosmetic damage to the hull gel coat in a couple places. However, there was a good bit of rain (not as much as the Carolinas got) but that may be a factor. I'm still investigating the compression post for a possible deck leak. I may have detected some evidence of past water ingress there. Soon, I will conduct an integrity test there to confirm.
I had a '94 26 many moons ago. No inspection port under companionway stairs, but valve and drain plug. Others have self installed inspection ports. yours shows some cracking. When I first got the boat in 2000, it had been sitting for a while but seemed dry. when I sailed the first few times, water under galley, head sinks and a few other places. after much agita and a repeat performance of a 1 gallon water tank under galley sink breaking...found out that water on top of ballast tank will deposit at the lowest point, which varies in a boat. think of a roof leak in a house. alan