Hunter Legend 40.5 fresh water tank leak

[Milton1979]

Good morning all, i own a 96 Hunter 40.5. When i fill the starboard side freshwater tank I'm getting water in my bilge, leads me to believe my fitting is cracked. I lifted the floor and i cant see any access to the water fittings.

Looking for any ideas.

Do i cut a inspection hole in a particular spot?

thank you in advance.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Welcome to the site @Milton1979 .

There should be access to the outlet as there is a valve at the tank outlet. Have you checked your owner's manual or else extract a copy from the archives here.

Lots of info as well in the archives here for locating tank leaks.

A slow, infuriating process but we've all located potable water leaks in our boats and sealed them. Cracked plastic tanks, maybe not so much.

 

[Milton1979]

Welcome to the site @Milton1979 .

There should be access to the outlet as there is a valve at the tank outlet. Have you checked your owner's manual or else extract a copy from the archives here.

Lots of info as well in the archives here for locating tank leaks.

A slow, infuriating process but we've all located potable water leaks in our boats and sealed them. Cracked plastic tanks, maybe not so much.

Thank you for the reply, the port and starboard tanks are built into the hull, the only visible fittings are at the top (vent and fill fittings), i think the fitting that failed is the fitting feeding the water supply to the boat which unfortunately is in the belly of the beast.

 

[Dave]

Good morning all, i own a 96 Hunter 40.5. When i fill the starboard side freshwater tank I'm getting water in my bilge, leads me to believe my fitting is cracked. I lifted the floor and i cant see any access to the water fittings.

Looking for any ideas.

Do i cut a inspection hole in a particular spot?

thank you in advance.

The links listed in this post all lead back to the Cruisers Forum. When a post is copied from CF links are embedded by the forum software which then appear when the post is pasted into another forum, in this case SBO. This is done without the original poster's knowledge.

The url for Hunter is: Hunter It returns a listing of threads where Hunter is tagged.

If an SBO member is going to post a question on multiple forums, then the member should post here first, then copy and paste the question in the other forums. Or they can edit out the links after posting on SBO by switching to BB Code and deleting the URLs.

 

[Milton1979]

The links listed in this post all lead back to the Cruisers Forum. When a post is copied from CF links are embedded by the forum software which then appear when the post is pasted into another forum, in this case SBO. This is done without the original poster's knowledge.

The url for Hunter is: Hunter It returns a listing of threads where Hunter is tagged.

If an SBO member is going to post a question on multiple forums, then the member should post here first, then copy and paste the question in the other forums. Or they can edit out the links after posting on SBO by switching to BB Code and deleting the URLs.

i will keep that in mind for next time, rookie mistake.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

i think the fitting that failed is the fitting feeding the water supply to the boat which unfortunately is in the belly of the beast.

Sorry, but the only thing I can add to that is "OH CRAP."

Hate to rub salt into this wound but it could also be a crack in a wall of the tank if you've really pissed off the "Gods of the Sea" at some previous time.

Unfortunately, no one with a 40.5 and the same problem has seen this to date so all I could suggest is to keep searching for the right "some one" on this or another forum.

Best of luck with this.

 

[Rich Stidger]

@Milton1979 , Welcome to the forum. I have a 1997 h40.5, and the only leaks I have ever had with the side belly tanks are through the lids that are screwed down. The screws tend to leak, and require re-sealing. Are you certain that this is not the path that is allowing water to flow to the bilge?

If the leak is truly at the water output connection, then the leak should appear when the tank is less than full and the water is below the surface of the screwed down lid.

Without research, I cannot tell you if or how this outlet fitting can be accessed. At the SBO store on this forum, there is an expert who used to work at the Hunter factory in Florida. His name escapes me at the moment, but he may have some insight regarding the construction and access. Call and ask to speak to the factory expert.

If all else fails, you could remove the lid on the tank completely, find the output fitting and seal it completely. Then create a new outlet through the lid with a stiff tube that goes to the bottom. Then connect that tube to the water manifold under the settee.

IIRC, In order to completely expose the top of the water tank, you need to remove several floor panels that may not be obvious. I have attached pictures that could help you.

Good luck. Let us know your final fix.

 

[Rick D]

FYI, I have had my 40.5 for 27 years. The belly tanks will leak from the top cover and sometimes from the inspection port. This is especially true of the starboard one because of the foot traffic through the salon. So, what I have done is to remove the screws, add calk before re-inserting, then snug them down. Note that I did not find it necessary to remove the cover itself. Same when I found the inspection port leaking.
Now, about prevention: what has worked for me. When I fill the tanks, I try not to top off. But that is not usually possible. Regardless, I turn on a faucet and drain off about a gallon from each tank I have filled so as to be sure there is no top pressure.
FWIW, good luck.

 

[Milton1979]

FYI, I have had my 40.5 for 27 years. The belly tanks will leak from the top cover and sometimes from the inspection port. This is especially true of the starboard one because of the foot traffic through the salon. So, what I have done is to remove the screws, add calk before re-inserting, then snug them down. Note that I did not find it necessary to remove the cover itself. Same when I found the inspection port leaking.
Now, about prevention: what has worked for me. When I fill the tanks, I try not to top off. But that is not usually possible. Regardless, I turn on a faucet and drain off about a gallon from each tank I have filled so as to be sure there is no top pressure.
FWIW, good luck.

Thank you Rick, appreciate the input.
You never had a problem with the plastic compression fittings on the water lines (cracks)?