I am trying to get to the port side water tank on my 1983 Hunter 34 but see no screws on the wooden settee cover that would allow me access. Another owner wrote about 10 years ago how he removed the screws and even posted a diagram showing where the screws were located. My guess is he had a later version and Hunter changed the design from 1983. Any assistance would be appreciated.
1983 Hunter 34 port side water tank removal
- Thread starter ROBERT1228
- Start date
Hi Robert,
There are definitely screws & they are probably covered with paint ! They screw into a piece of hardwood near the edge of the side as per pix with the tools showing on top of tank. The diagram you refer too is probably this one which shows approximately where the crews are located on my boat (84). Furthermore, there are jams which need to be unscrewed in the little storage areas on the backside of the settee as shown on the diagram. 1983 was the first production year of the 34 and I doubt that Hunter would have made a change there. Feel for the screws around where shown on the diagram and scrape the paint off. You could also carefully insert a putty knife or a small flat blade screw drive in the joint between the sidewall and the seat itself right at the aft corner and try prying the seat up softly. You might then locate the corner screw. Scrape off the paint above it and remove it. Pry up a little towards the next screw and repeat the procedure. It's not hard but it is a PITA. Good luck.
There are definitely screws & they are probably covered with paint ! They screw into a piece of hardwood near the edge of the side as per pix with the tools showing on top of tank. The diagram you refer too is probably this one which shows approximately where the crews are located on my boat (84). Furthermore, there are jams which need to be unscrewed in the little storage areas on the backside of the settee as shown on the diagram. 1983 was the first production year of the 34 and I doubt that Hunter would have made a change there. Feel for the screws around where shown on the diagram and scrape the paint off. You could also carefully insert a putty knife or a small flat blade screw drive in the joint between the sidewall and the seat itself right at the aft corner and try prying the seat up softly. You might then locate the corner screw. Scrape off the paint above it and remove it. Pry up a little towards the next screw and repeat the procedure. It's not hard but it is a PITA. Good luck.
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Claude
I used a mirror to locate the screws which unfortunately were put in from the underside going up. I can get to a few from the two openings but the ones near the tank will have to cut or pried . I guess Hunter changed their construction after 1983 so owners could get to the tank easier
Thanks for your guidance
Bob C
I used a mirror to locate the screws which unfortunately were put in from the underside going up. I can get to a few from the two openings but the ones near the tank will have to cut or pried . I guess Hunter changed their construction after 1983 so owners could get to the tank easier
Thanks for your guidance
Bob C
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 23,390
Robert.
If the screws were put in from under the top board of the benchseat, then the whole seat may have been built outside the boat and inserted into the cabin. You might check to see if there are accessible screws holding the bench seat in place. Then take it out in one piece. I believe it unlikely that a builder had someone on his back inside the bench seat screwing the top onto the frame.
They would build the frame in a cabinet shop, screw it down onto the top, then bring it to the boat, flip it over and set it in place over the tank which was installed first and secured to the hull.
Just my thoughts based on your statement.
If the screws were put in from under the top board of the benchseat, then the whole seat may have been built outside the boat and inserted into the cabin. You might check to see if there are accessible screws holding the bench seat in place. Then take it out in one piece. I believe it unlikely that a builder had someone on his back inside the bench seat screwing the top onto the frame.
They would build the frame in a cabinet shop, screw it down onto the top, then bring it to the boat, flip it over and set it in place over the tank which was installed first and secured to the hull.
Just my thoughts based on your statement.
There's two versions of settees on the H34's. One where you can simply unscrew the top and the other one where you have to drill out the teak bungs and remove the screws on the bottom of the settee (front and sides) and lift the whole thing up to uncover the tank. Took me a while to figure that out myself last year when I removed the tank for an AC.
When I removed the portside tank I found the screws were holding the top on but a couple were holding the face plate of the oval hole cabinet, I was able to remove all but 1, I used my multi tool to cut the wood away from the remaining screw. Then I removed the screw, and replaced it and a large washer.
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I took a bunch of pictures when I did mine last year the screws that hold the plywood top down are easy to remove but the ones that are hidden are behind the vertical panel with the oval holes in it there is a wooden cleat that holds it to the plywood and the plywood to the fiberglass underneath some of the screws go through the cleat some of the screws are under the cleat they are really hard to get out and even harder to get with a multi-tool but removing the oval vertical panel really helps it's just not that hard it's just tedious because nobody wants to take things apart
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Any particular reason you are taking your tank out? If you are getting rid of it and its not destroyed, I may be interested.
I've noticed you asked us a few times you know there is room in there for a non custom-made tank it's so it doesn't have to be Hunter original equipment take some measurements and look and see what off-the-shelf tanks you can find
Totally know this is an option, but if I can find a used one at my convenience that is the route I will go as it will likely be much cheaper. The tank isn't a necessity for me, and so I have no time limit on my search. Some people like the previous owner of my boat, throw things away or don't' want them for whatever their reasons may be.
Having bought our Hunter 34 a couple of years ago - one that a P.O. had removed the port water tank - I have finally gotten tired of walking on a slant or catching myself when the boat lurches due to the permanent list to starboard due to the loss of ballast on the portside I have added 4 bags of tube sand in various compartments on the portside to get the boat to sit straight up. Once I find a water tank to replace the missing once - I ditch the sand ballast.