Folks, I was wondering if anybody has a different idea or experience with this problem. After sailing, I end up with about 2 quarts of water in the bilge. The problem is that it runs under the sole and gets into setee lockers. On my boat, if you look in the locker below the top of the setter (i.e., the middle of the boat), you see where there's a gap in the liner and you can see/feel below the liner. I think that water from the water ballast leaks from the air vent hole (my plug isn't 100% water/air tight), runs down to the bilge and works it's way forward and into the lockers when the boat heels. It's always about the same amount of water...and ugly dirty water at that. I wouldn't be concerned, except that it would severly limit what I can put beneath the sette in the cabin and it started causing some mold issues (got that fixed with emptying out the water and spraying with bleach solution). Any other ideas? Deucer
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H260 Leaks
Decuer: This is a frequent topic regarding the H260. Suggest you search the archives using the term "H260 leaks" You'll get a ton of stuff to get you thinking. Tip: generous use of toilet tissue placed in strategic spots will help locate leaks.
Decuer: This is a frequent topic regarding the H260. Suggest you search the archives using the term "H260 leaks" You'll get a ton of stuff to get you thinking. Tip: generous use of toilet tissue placed in strategic spots will help locate leaks.
Having a similar little leak
My ballast vent needed a new plug and some caulking around the washer/seal. Another problematic area may be the mast compression post to hull joint(sealed that too). Seems that I've read that others have found this joint not fully caulked. I'm getting a quart or so in the bilge and strongly suspect the rear deck/hull joint which has shown up as a prob for others. Toilet paper is a good idea, I've also heard about sprinkling baby powder around suspect areas to expose small weepy spots. Its hard to beat a totally dry bilge but it's pretty darn rare in a boat over 25'. Keep us up to date on your progress. Good luck Michael
My ballast vent needed a new plug and some caulking around the washer/seal. Another problematic area may be the mast compression post to hull joint(sealed that too). Seems that I've read that others have found this joint not fully caulked. I'm getting a quart or so in the bilge and strongly suspect the rear deck/hull joint which has shown up as a prob for others. Toilet paper is a good idea, I've also heard about sprinkling baby powder around suspect areas to expose small weepy spots. Its hard to beat a totally dry bilge but it's pretty darn rare in a boat over 25'. Keep us up to date on your progress. Good luck Michael
Lot's in the Archives
One other notorious leak is the rub rail where it turns down at the stern. Be sure you tilt all of the hatch boards inside up on end when the boat is not in use. Even better varnish the raw underside of all of them. A couple of mine were all but destoyed before I bought my boat.
One other notorious leak is the rub rail where it turns down at the stern. Be sure you tilt all of the hatch boards inside up on end when the boat is not in use. Even better varnish the raw underside of all of them. A couple of mine were all but destoyed before I bought my boat.
A few other areas are...
...ram water pushed into the bilge pump and any water leaking onto the top of the ballast tank can wind up everywhere after heeling. Try dumping dye into the tank too. alan
...ram water pushed into the bilge pump and any water leaking onto the top of the ballast tank can wind up everywhere after heeling. Try dumping dye into the tank too. alan
H260 Leak
I too have been having water in my bilge, it seems when we are out choppy conditions is when I see it. ( specifically during the Pensacola beach Blue Angels air show when there is a ton of boats creating all sorts of wave action) It is also a darker color, and I thought that it might be from a separation in the top of the water ballast tank, but, the water does not appear to be smelly or stagnant like I would expect it to be from the tank. When I am sailing under smoother conditions the bilge stays dry. I will inspect the stern area.
I too have been having water in my bilge, it seems when we are out choppy conditions is when I see it. ( specifically during the Pensacola beach Blue Angels air show when there is a ton of boats creating all sorts of wave action) It is also a darker color, and I thought that it might be from a separation in the top of the water ballast tank, but, the water does not appear to be smelly or stagnant like I would expect it to be from the tank. When I am sailing under smoother conditions the bilge stays dry. I will inspect the stern area.
First UJpdate
Well, first time out since I posted this. I changed the ballest air plug to one that fits tighter. I also put towels around the area surrounding the top of the ballast tank (where the air vent and valve handle are located). This seemed to work. I didn't get any water coming out of that area. Of course, we had friends aboard for the first time and I didn't get to press the boat that hard (max 15 degrees heel). That's the good news. Bad news. When we picked the boat up from storage, I found water in the left setter storage area and the starboard rear of the bunk area was damp. The water in the storage was the same discolored water we've found before. So, I'm going to be optimistic and think that was just left over water in the bilge that splashed up when we towed to boat after cleaning everything. The water in the bunk area has me mystified. I thought it might be from where we washed down the cockpit. But yesterday the first mate (and a fine first mate she is) monitored for water leaks as I sprayed down the cockpit. No leaks. Sigh...more things to investigate. I'll let ya'll know. When I get it figured out, I'll post to the knowledge base. Deucer
Well, first time out since I posted this. I changed the ballest air plug to one that fits tighter. I also put towels around the area surrounding the top of the ballast tank (where the air vent and valve handle are located). This seemed to work. I didn't get any water coming out of that area. Of course, we had friends aboard for the first time and I didn't get to press the boat that hard (max 15 degrees heel). That's the good news. Bad news. When we picked the boat up from storage, I found water in the left setter storage area and the starboard rear of the bunk area was damp. The water in the storage was the same discolored water we've found before. So, I'm going to be optimistic and think that was just left over water in the bilge that splashed up when we towed to boat after cleaning everything. The water in the bunk area has me mystified. I thought it might be from where we washed down the cockpit. But yesterday the first mate (and a fine first mate she is) monitored for water leaks as I sprayed down the cockpit. No leaks. Sigh...more things to investigate. I'll let ya'll know. When I get it figured out, I'll post to the knowledge base. Deucer
It may take a while
to get all the water out of the bilge from the balolast tank. I had the same issue when my vent plug split the rubber and got probably 3 gallons of water on top of my ballast tank and in the bilge. The ballast tank is not flat on top and will hold some water that shows up when the boat heels. It took about 4 times of sponging out the bilge under the rear bunk and in the storage areas. After that, I have a dry boat again.
to get all the water out of the bilge from the balolast tank. I had the same issue when my vent plug split the rubber and got probably 3 gallons of water on top of my ballast tank and in the bilge. The ballast tank is not flat on top and will hold some water that shows up when the boat heels. It took about 4 times of sponging out the bilge under the rear bunk and in the storage areas. After that, I have a dry boat again.
mystery leaks
We had a leak that bothered me for the first year or so. The starboard cushion in the rear bunk would get wet and sometimes water would end up in the floor around the galley. I could never find the source, then contacted Crazy Dave who told me to put Sikaflex in the cockpit seam that goes from the engine well around the pedastal to the swim ladder. There are screws and screw holes in the bottom of tha t seam. Sealing this seam fixed our leak. It turns out the water was coming in from the seam, and into the battery compartment, then under the rear bunk cushions. Once it gets inside the liner, it could run anywhere I guess. I recommend using Sikaflex if you do this, I used another brand and it mildewed very quick and needs to be replaced. Hope you find your leak(s)
We had a leak that bothered me for the first year or so. The starboard cushion in the rear bunk would get wet and sometimes water would end up in the floor around the galley. I could never find the source, then contacted Crazy Dave who told me to put Sikaflex in the cockpit seam that goes from the engine well around the pedastal to the swim ladder. There are screws and screw holes in the bottom of tha t seam. Sealing this seam fixed our leak. It turns out the water was coming in from the seam, and into the battery compartment, then under the rear bunk cushions. Once it gets inside the liner, it could run anywhere I guess. I recommend using Sikaflex if you do this, I used another brand and it mildewed very quick and needs to be replaced. Hope you find your leak(s)
There's one I hadn't checked
Went out and checked this joint and sure enough there was a couple loose screws(no, not the captn's) so I'll rebed all the screws and recaulk the whole pedistal/rear hatch section. Getting a little water at the galley floor but i'm pretty sure it's from the occasional driving rain through the hatch cover and companionway boards. Thanks for the tip although theres no indication of water intrusion from anywhere overhead and unfortunately it's saltwater(had a little taste) in the bilge. Quarts/gallons of rainwater from above would certainly leave a sign too. Maybe I'll have the admiral hose it down and I'll inspect for leakyness
. I'd love to know daves opinion on the tank, hull to liner sealing process. Tricky stuff for sure. Thanks to all. Michael
Went out and checked this joint and sure enough there was a couple loose screws(no, not the captn's) so I'll rebed all the screws and recaulk the whole pedistal/rear hatch section. Getting a little water at the galley floor but i'm pretty sure it's from the occasional driving rain through the hatch cover and companionway boards. Thanks for the tip although theres no indication of water intrusion from anywhere overhead and unfortunately it's saltwater(had a little taste) in the bilge. Quarts/gallons of rainwater from above would certainly leave a sign too. Maybe I'll have the admiral hose it down and I'll inspect for leakyness
. I'd love to know daves opinion on the tank, hull to liner sealing process. Tricky stuff for sure. Thanks to all. MichaelGeorge
The seam I am referring to is in the floor of the cockpit. The pedastal and helmsman seat sit on section that is seperate from the main cockpit floor. There is a seam that seperates the 2 sections of cockpit floor. Not sure if it is an issue for those that have a tiller but It's worth a look, it definetly helped us. We occasionally get a small amount of water in the floor near the galley that I assume comes in through the hatch. It only appears after a heavy storm. I added the companionway cover that really helped, but I think it still allows some water to penetrate, though very little. Other than that, the boat is very dry. I think the problem with water between the liner is that it may sit and accumulate until the boat moves (heels) then it will move to another location which may provide an exit point into the cabin making it hard to trace to the original leak. I have yet to pull of the rubrail and check, but I think I will as soon as I get a chance.
The seam I am referring to is in the floor of the cockpit. The pedastal and helmsman seat sit on section that is seperate from the main cockpit floor. There is a seam that seperates the 2 sections of cockpit floor. Not sure if it is an issue for those that have a tiller but It's worth a look, it definetly helped us. We occasionally get a small amount of water in the floor near the galley that I assume comes in through the hatch. It only appears after a heavy storm. I added the companionway cover that really helped, but I think it still allows some water to penetrate, though very little. Other than that, the boat is very dry. I think the problem with water between the liner is that it may sit and accumulate until the boat moves (heels) then it will move to another location which may provide an exit point into the cabin making it hard to trace to the original leak. I have yet to pull of the rubrail and check, but I think I will as soon as I get a chance.
H260 Leaks
As noted the H260 is normally a pretty dry boat and leaks from the ballast valve and the keel seem to be the biggest culprit. I still have a leak that appears only after a sporty day on the bay. There was a problem with the hull/deck seal in early boats (check the archives) but that was probably lousy supervision and quality control. I've pulled my rub rail off and noted that it was sealed pretty well. I can't imagine where water would get in. I'm going to see if I can put together a list of place that people have found leaks and put it on my site.
As noted the H260 is normally a pretty dry boat and leaks from the ballast valve and the keel seem to be the biggest culprit. I still have a leak that appears only after a sporty day on the bay. There was a problem with the hull/deck seal in early boats (check the archives) but that was probably lousy supervision and quality control. I've pulled my rub rail off and noted that it was sealed pretty well. I can't imagine where water would get in. I'm going to see if I can put together a list of place that people have found leaks and put it on my site.
Found it!
Folks, I'm 99% sure my water leak was a loose air vent plug in the water ballast. Took Acadia out two weeks ago, made sure everything was dry, placed towels around the ballast valve handle area. We stayed dry during the sail. I was concerned because I found some water in the back, starboard part of the rear berth. However, that hasn't repeated and we had some VERY strong rain storms. The only reason I'm not closing this out is we didn't really press the boat hard and didn't heel past 15 degrees. I hope to take the boat out next weekend and push it harder. I'll let ya'll know. Deucer
Folks, I'm 99% sure my water leak was a loose air vent plug in the water ballast. Took Acadia out two weeks ago, made sure everything was dry, placed towels around the ballast valve handle area. We stayed dry during the sail. I was concerned because I found some water in the back, starboard part of the rear berth. However, that hasn't repeated and we had some VERY strong rain storms. The only reason I'm not closing this out is we didn't really press the boat hard and didn't heel past 15 degrees. I hope to take the boat out next weekend and push it harder. I'll let ya'll know. Deucer
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