1984 Hunter 31 bilge mystery

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McZube

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Apr 5, 2012
119
Hunter 31 Chesapeake Bay, MD
Within the last couple of months my boat had a leak from the head holding tank. In the process of replacing the head and all its hoses I repaired the leak. The odor persisted so, in an effort to deodorize the cabin, I poured highly chlorinated water, followed by water and vinegar, onto the spot where the tank had leaked, and let it find its way to the source of the odor. Neither of these liquid mixtures seemed to appear at the bilge pump.

My question is, where did they go?

I realize that when I look into the interior beneath the V-berth I'm looking at the backside of fiberglass lay-up and when I look into the bilge I'm looking at the front side of finished fiberglass. I take it that these are two separate pieces of fiberglass and the liquids are somewhere between them.

Thanks for any insight.
 
Feb 22, 2004
222
Hunter H340 Michigan City
Yep you have the answer. There have been many posts written about the same. One even went so far as to put a drain plug in the hull. I rinse it a couple of times a year. I also used my dremel and enlarged the hole on the bilge sump so most of that water drains in the bilge. I bought a small hand pump with a thin hose and I put it in the hole and pump as much out as I can. When we got the boat it STUNK and that nasty water was the cause. We smelll good now. Good luck on how you decide to handle it.
 

mr c

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Aug 4, 2010
77
hunter sailboat 31 northport
Yes, you are correct there is a liner. A bilge within a bilge. people have water stuck between the two and that is the cause of there odor. Many people drill holes in the bilge (forward & aft) to drain the water. Mine had trapped water I drilled a small hole because I didn't want to sink. About to gallons of water came out. There is about a 1/4" of space between the liners. This is my hole. But it should have been lower. Hope this helps.

image-1353423911.jpg
 
Mar 20, 2011
623
Hunter 31_83-87 New Orleans
without drilling holes in the bilge sump area (which I am leary of doing), is there any other access port or area where one can insert a pump hose or tubing to remove? Something similar to sucking oil out of the sump during a change.
 
Apr 15, 2011
22
Hunter 34 Lake Ouachita
You are definitely going to want to drill a hole into your bilge, it will more than likely fix a lot of your odor problems, and it also will complete a drain path that hunter never did, which will in turn also keep water from sitting at the bottom of your compression post too. I have a 1" hole at the front center of the basin, as low as possible. You should easily be able to tap with a knuckle and hear the hollowness. The hull is lower than the bilge box, but still go slow.
 
Mar 20, 2011
623
Hunter 31_83-87 New Orleans
I don't mean to hijack this posting but in line with it, should the hole be drilled in the fore and/or aft location of the bilge? What diameter would you recommend? I do not have an odor problem but i have noticed where my stern defintiely sits a lot lower than the bow at water line. Often wondered if it could be due to water accumulation in the aft end of the boat liner.
 

DSELR

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Sep 25, 2008
12
Hunter 31_83-87 Lake Ouachita, Royal, AR
I drilled 3, 1/2" holes. Forward, aft and on the star side. Made the holes about 2" from the bottom of the bilge. Also, like Stu says try www.pureayre.com it works great for removing odors.
 

McZube

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Apr 5, 2012
119
Hunter 31 Chesapeake Bay, MD
I discovered that one of the previous owners drilled limber holes for and aft from the bilge pump chamber. I also discovered that sucking out the bilge water using a wet/dry vac reduced the odor in the cabin.
 
Oct 28, 2005
89
Hunter 31 Portage De Sioux, MO
Having experienced the foul ordor smell a time or 2, what my wife usually does is mix up some bleach and water, (mostly bleach) and along side of the engine compartment you will notice 2 small inspection ports. Open them up and pour the mixture down in the port. This will normally come right out in the bildge, but some liquid may stay inside. This is okay. The bleach will take care of any ordor, mildew, critters or else and will dry up. Some will say don't use bleach on anything, use other chemicals or remendies. It's harsh, but it works the first time. Another place you may want to look for ordors is the ice box drain. WOW. Had some chicken leak out of a "Leak Proff" bag some years back, and we couldn't even go in the boat. Did the same routine with the bleach, no more problems there. Put a rubber stopper in the ice box drain and we freeze water in gallon milk jugs. Put them in the bottom of ice box. No more smells. The front bildge area you are going to have to drill the hole. No other way around it. Flaw in the design of the Hunter 31. Going on 8 years with our 87 Hunter 31. Good luck.
 

McZube

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Apr 5, 2012
119
Hunter 31 Chesapeake Bay, MD
Thanks. I poured a strong bleach mixture in from the front. I'll pour it in aft, too. The odor is definitely improving. I'll be on the boat this weekend.
 
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