I purchased an older H23 (1987) which will be on a mooring this year. The only leaks that I found last year were around the port lazerette when I was being too "harsh" with the hose washing it down. Has anyone added a bilge pump to their H23? If so, did you put in another through-hull or merely tap into the cockpit drain hose? Is one really necessary? (The original owner kept the boat in a slip for years an dnever found a need to add one). My friends' boats have pumps but they are also much bigger (Tartan 41 & Norlin 34). Perhaps they just leak more than the Hunters, eh? Thanks.
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Jon Bastien
H23 Bilge pump
Hi Joel, I think the real question is, where would you put it? There isn't enough room underneath the cabin sole boards, and there are no holes drilled for running a hose to a thru-hull fitting. If you put it in that cavernous port side lazarette, you'll have water coming over the cabin sole boards before it's deep enough in the lazarette to be pumped out. There's not much need for a pump on this boat anyway, unless you've got a known leak or plan to be away from the boat for extended periods... Just make it a point to sponge up any water you see under the sole boards whenever you're on the boat, and you'll probably e just fine. --Jon Bastien H25 'Adagio'
Hi Joel, I think the real question is, where would you put it? There isn't enough room underneath the cabin sole boards, and there are no holes drilled for running a hose to a thru-hull fitting. If you put it in that cavernous port side lazarette, you'll have water coming over the cabin sole boards before it's deep enough in the lazarette to be pumped out. There's not much need for a pump on this boat anyway, unless you've got a known leak or plan to be away from the boat for extended periods... Just make it a point to sponge up any water you see under the sole boards whenever you're on the boat, and you'll probably e just fine. --Jon Bastien H25 'Adagio'
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TOM MCNAMARA
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Joel
That's what I thought...Thanks.
That was my feeling also. I just wanted to be able to respond back to the big boat nervous nellies who were telling me all their horror stories of water leakage.
That was my feeling also. I just wanted to be able to respond back to the big boat nervous nellies who were telling me all their horror stories of water leakage.
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Jon Bastien
Afterthought...
My previous comment isn't meant to say that the boat is leak-proof, or even that it should go completely unprotected. There are a few spots on the H23 that are notorious for leaking- The cockpit drain, the lower rudder pintle, and the galley drain come to mind. What I really want to stress is that you should visit the boat OFTEN, and check for signs of leakage EVERY time you visit the boat. AS SOON as you find anything suspect, find and fix the source of the leak... I know what it feels like to look into the cabin of the 23 and see the cabin sole boards floating, and let me tell you, there's nothing that will bail out a boat faster than a panic-stricken sailor with a bucket! It CAN happen, and should be watched closely. --Jon Bastien
My previous comment isn't meant to say that the boat is leak-proof, or even that it should go completely unprotected. There are a few spots on the H23 that are notorious for leaking- The cockpit drain, the lower rudder pintle, and the galley drain come to mind. What I really want to stress is that you should visit the boat OFTEN, and check for signs of leakage EVERY time you visit the boat. AS SOON as you find anything suspect, find and fix the source of the leak... I know what it feels like to look into the cabin of the 23 and see the cabin sole boards floating, and let me tell you, there's nothing that will bail out a boat faster than a panic-stricken sailor with a bucket! It CAN happen, and should be watched closely. --Jon Bastien
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Joel
Leaks and such
I agree with your assessment and have read through the various postings about leaks on the H23. I was also concerned that a bilge pump gives a false sense of security. If an unexpected leak did occur, the battery could be dead and the pump inoperative well before the situation is noticed. One of my friends with a powerboat learned this the hardway. His boat had scuppers in the stern. He was going away for a week so he lashed his inflatable on the stern. It rained that week, filling the inflatable causing the stern to tilt more into the water than was normal. This put the scuppers below the water line which, water being what it is, decided to go where you don't really wnat the water to be. He came back later to find his boat half submerged with the battery completely dead trying to pump the water out.
I agree with your assessment and have read through the various postings about leaks on the H23. I was also concerned that a bilge pump gives a false sense of security. If an unexpected leak did occur, the battery could be dead and the pump inoperative well before the situation is noticed. One of my friends with a powerboat learned this the hardway. His boat had scuppers in the stern. He was going away for a week so he lashed his inflatable on the stern. It rained that week, filling the inflatable causing the stern to tilt more into the water than was normal. This put the scuppers below the water line which, water being what it is, decided to go where you don't really wnat the water to be. He came back later to find his boat half submerged with the battery completely dead trying to pump the water out.
The bilge pump question
(Larger) keelboats have bilge pumps for several reasons: a) They have inboard engines with a prop shaft below the water level. When properly adjusted, a small amount of water is supposed to "weep" through the prop shaft seal. This water collects in the bilge. b) Keelboats have large iceboxes that usually drain melt water to the bilge. c) Below-deck showers usually drain into the bilge. The H23 has none of these features, so it really doesn't need a bilge pump. Besides, as others have already pointed out, the H23 bilge is too shallow for a conventional bilge pump. That being said, a bilge pump can be useful on an H23 in some situations. For example, most marinas have the words "mandatory bilge pump" somewhere in the wet slip rental agreement (even though the actual attitude is more like "don't ask, don't tell"). However, if you have to deal with a hardass dockmaster...get a pump. If the boat springs a leak, a bilge pump will make it easier to get the water out (after you have stopped the water from coming in, of course). There has been talk about visual and/or audible alerts in the bilge pump circuit. These alarms are supposed to draw attention to a continually running pump before it kills the battery and the boat sinks. Good luck. Peter S/V Raven
(Larger) keelboats have bilge pumps for several reasons: a) They have inboard engines with a prop shaft below the water level. When properly adjusted, a small amount of water is supposed to "weep" through the prop shaft seal. This water collects in the bilge. b) Keelboats have large iceboxes that usually drain melt water to the bilge. c) Below-deck showers usually drain into the bilge. The H23 has none of these features, so it really doesn't need a bilge pump. Besides, as others have already pointed out, the H23 bilge is too shallow for a conventional bilge pump. That being said, a bilge pump can be useful on an H23 in some situations. For example, most marinas have the words "mandatory bilge pump" somewhere in the wet slip rental agreement (even though the actual attitude is more like "don't ask, don't tell"). However, if you have to deal with a hardass dockmaster...get a pump. If the boat springs a leak, a bilge pump will make it easier to get the water out (after you have stopped the water from coming in, of course). There has been talk about visual and/or audible alerts in the bilge pump circuit. These alarms are supposed to draw attention to a continually running pump before it kills the battery and the boat sinks. Good luck. Peter S/V Raven
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Jerry
Cockpit Drain is Weak Link
Joel, The cockpit drain exits the transom just above water level. Any wave action floods it. If the cockpit to transom hose cracks or the clamp breaks, lazarette will flood. The lazarette on my H23 has been bone dry for 4 years, but I worry about it. I'll replace the hose & clamps at the first sign of any problem. I haven't worried enough to get an electric bilge pump. Regards, Jerry
Joel, The cockpit drain exits the transom just above water level. Any wave action floods it. If the cockpit to transom hose cracks or the clamp breaks, lazarette will flood. The lazarette on my H23 has been bone dry for 4 years, but I worry about it. I'll replace the hose & clamps at the first sign of any problem. I haven't worried enough to get an electric bilge pump. Regards, Jerry
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Andy Howard
Portable Bildge Pump
My first boat was very simular to the H23, It really didn't need a bildge pump but being the safety freek I am, I put together a Portable. I used a rule 2000 mounted on a small piece of metal so it would sink to whatever hole I droped in in. I connected 20 feet of wire to a Cigarette Lighter plug and Battery post clips and attached 15 feet of hose. Of course It sat in a locker taking up space for 3 years but I felt better knowing I had something.
My first boat was very simular to the H23, It really didn't need a bildge pump but being the safety freek I am, I put together a Portable. I used a rule 2000 mounted on a small piece of metal so it would sink to whatever hole I droped in in. I connected 20 feet of wire to a Cigarette Lighter plug and Battery post clips and attached 15 feet of hose. Of course It sat in a locker taking up space for 3 years but I felt better knowing I had something.
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Jim Malcolm
Hand pump
Other posts have commented on the pros and cons of an automatic pump. I have a hand pump that works real well. I know because I had to pump out my Catalina 22 three times. Took about one hour of pumping with about 6 inches of water in the cabin. How the boat sank three times can be discussed later.
Other posts have commented on the pros and cons of an automatic pump. I have a hand pump that works real well. I know because I had to pump out my Catalina 22 three times. Took about one hour of pumping with about 6 inches of water in the cabin. How the boat sank three times can be discussed later.
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