Ballast Tank Leak Confirmed - H-26 -Advice needed!

[Pat Hooyman]

Thanks to all the folks who have been making suggestions. In particular thanks Dave Condon for your offer to help and Jeff and Steve for your information on similar experiences. For your information, Greg at Hunter Marine has been very responsive. I will talk to the factory this week and get some help on their experiences.The leak in my 1998 H-26 is definitely from the ballast tank. As suggested by several of you, I put red food coloring in the tank on Saturday and the water in the bilge below the Galley floor is now red. The port and starboard seat lockers and the v-berth locker are bone dry. The bilge by the bilge pump is also bone dry.I could use some advice on ways to procede. I have not been able to locate the leak. The boat was taking on about 1 & 1/2 gallons of water per day but this has slowed to one gallon per day in the last few days as the tank level goes down. It will increase if I start heeling the boat and put pressure on the tank. Also a partially empty ballast tank is unsafe when sailing so I have to fill the tank to sail and the rate will go up. I have checked all areas I can see and still see no leaks although the area under the galley sink fills with water through a small crack in the tabbing below the galley sink access door just above the top of the tank- apparently in communication with the bilge on the other side of the tabbing. At dock on Saturday, I tied a line to the main halyard from a dock cleat and I heeled the boat and was able to see water coming out of the tabbing - this got me excited. Unfortunately when I righted the boat and healed it a second time the water stopped. The water may be draining out of a trapped area in the tabbing or this may be related to the tank leak. Today there was a little red water under the sink coming from the crack. Very little water compared with what I am pumping from under the galley floor but the only spot I have actually been able to see leaking. I will have to check it out next - the question is how.Questions. If I cut away the tabbing on the floor inside of the galley sink cabinet will I see the top of the tank under the Galley floor? A drawing of the shape of the top of the ballast tank, the framework, the hull and some drawings of how the interior liner covers the tank.would be very helpful. I asked Hunter to send them if they have them. Does anyone know what parts under the sink are ballast tank, structural grid or cosmetic glass?What type of tool should I use? Space is limited under the sink and I have to be careful about damaging the tank. I am thinking about a Dremmel tool with some kind of cutting blade. Any experience on the right tool for this job?Jeff and Steve- did your leaks happen the first season in the water or later? Any suggestions on stuff to put in the tank to stop the leak? Someone suggested a couple of pounds of ground pepper - I'm giving that a shot on the theory that nothing ventured nothing gained. If nothing else I will have an interesting gumbo recipe.Thanks againPat Hooyman

 

[Eric]

Dealer and Hunter

I have not been following this thread but I have read several about , what appear to be factory defects in a variety of boats, which should be handeled by the dealer under warranty. You probably have spent more for this boat than your last car and you no doubt would not be in a dealers face if your 1998 car had a significant problem.In my opinion.too often there seems to be a brand loyalty which makes the owner unwilling to push for reconciliation of the problem. I remember one owner on this site who having spent over 70k for a new boat and had a laundry list of issues which after months Hunter finally sent out a "technician" to fix. The owner was happily reporting how nice that was of Hunter. What is wrong with this picture?You may have bought this boat used, but if it is a manufacturing defect, and a common one at that, you should have the local dealer crawling around at Hunter's expense, not you. The Hunter people may have been very nice but you still have a leaking boat and are becoming a contortionist.I will state that this type of issue is not unique to Hunter, which can and does provide alot of bang for the buck, but an aggressive quality control system not only provides a better but cheaper product. Do it right the first time. I wish your dealer and hunter good luck in finding the leak and you pleasant, dry sailing in the future.

 

[Dave Condon]

Contact Hunter

Pat;Thank you for calling. As I suggested toyou yesterday, contact Gregg as your problem is with the tank and from what you described, it is under the floor pan. Gregg will take care of you. Keep me posted my friend.Merry Christmas to you and all

 

[Alan Long]

my experience

When I developed a ballast tank leak in my 23.5, I was poised with a jigsaw and various other implements of destruction to try and locate the leak myself. Fortunately my wife, who has a cooler disposition, convinced me to take it to the dealer first. Steve Price Marine in Deltaville,Va. found the leak, fixed it and didn't have to cut anything. Diagnosis was an "oops hole" created during manufacture. Cost me less than 50 bucks..what a relief.Lesson learned..sometimes its the cheap guy that pays the most.Alan Long (cheap guy)S/V Random Access

 

[Steve]

Half the battle

Half the battle is over, at least you have an idea of what is at stake. My problem occurred immediately, as soon as the boat hit the water for the first time. Warranty was not a contested issue, in fact both Hunter and the dealer helped out in many ways, such as the use of a new 29.9 for as long as it took to repair the 26 (2.5 weeks).As indicated, this is a Hunter factory issue and should be followed-up on.. This is not an amateur project. My own experience required the complete floor area, including the teak sole and beyond cut out exposing the tank top. The teak sole is a thin veneer material inset into the sole pan with glue. So you can not excess the tank by only removing the teak. The tanktop is semi circular with raised sides that are glassed into the sole pan along the edges to help support the other upper structures, such as under the sink areas. Water will sit on top of the tank until you heel or enough spills over into under the galley or head sink etc.. After repair, they replaced everything with such a high degree of workman ship, you can not tell this work was done. Short of this, we would have demanded a replacement boat, but did not have too.I would think your dealer could make a case to Hunter on your behalf even if you are not the first owner. This is not the first problem of this nature nor will it be the last. I’m sure they want to continue a good customer relationship and reputation with you and to all the people you have told. I’m not sure where you are, hopefully you have a good glass-man that your dealer uses. Many boats need minor adjustments after they leave the factor and most dealers have well established, Hunter approved, fiberglass company relationships they count on. Also, hunter can send a crew into the field as needed from Florida (ask for Lance).Good Luck.. keep us all posted on your progress!!!