Can anyone tell me what this hole is?

[joelescoulie]

I'm a new boat owner, inherited from my Dad. He's not around to ask anymore, And I have a lot to learn about the care and feeding of a boat.

There's a little port hole in the deck, just next to the stairs. It's full of gross water, about an inch deep. I've run the bilge pump until it runs dry, but this is still full.

 

[Crusty Ol Salt]

Water ballast tank.

 

[Justin_NSA]

You can't pump a water ballast tank dry with the bilge pump. You may have a leaking thru hull somewhere if it's not rainwater

 

[Tally Ho]

Maybe an access hole to suck all that gross water out with a shop vac.

Many boats trap water under the pan…so this may have been your dads solution to get it out.

Is the H26 water ballasted? I cannot imagine the OP cut an access hole in the ballast tank, and sealed it with that clear cover thst is screwed down to the deck…I don’t think it would be water-tight.

Greg

 

[rgranger]

I had an H 26 for years and did not have that access hole. I was going to suggest the same thing as @Tally Ho but he beat me to it

 

[Crusty Ol Salt]

It is my understanding that some H260s and some H26s do have them.

Hunter 26. Ballast tank inspection

Hello fellow sailorsThe ballast tank is vital to seaworthiness of my beautiful Hunter 26. I want to ensure that the tank has no defects, or damage made by pervious owners. I am pulling her out of the water in a week’s time, and want to prepare all needed inspections, and improvements in...

forums.sailboatowners.com

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Please verify the model boat. As a former Hunter dealer, I was involved with the design of your boat if indeed it is a Hunter 26

 

[Benny17441]

It is not a hole, it is an inspection port. Most boats have gallons of water trapped below the sole. This water usually contains bio particles and bacteria which account with funky and smelly soup that you are looking at. You can try pumping some out, but you can't get to the water trapped in the hull stringers. It is best to keep it shut to keep the smell contained out of the cabin.

 

[JamesG161]

Look for HIN# on the boat. [Like a VIN number for autos]

Hull Identification Number.

When you know that number post it. There are a lot of Resources, Info, and Part on this site

Hunter 26

Welcome to the fun of Sailing

Jim...

PS: HIN is a metal plate on outside of boat. Mine is Starboard Aft

 

[h2o_snow]

I concur - an inspection port for the top of the water ballast tank. But why? OP - does the hole extend thru the water ballast tank? You could add dye and see where that goes. Could WB tank have a leak and water is pooling there under the sole?

Pretty easy to keep the water ballast clean & stink free - we always are concerned about invasive species while traveling.

 

[Justin_NSA]

I could be wrong, but isn't that too high to be the top of a ballast tank? More like a window to the sole.

 

[rgranger]

More like a window to the sole.

 

[h2o_snow]

I could be wrong, but isn't that too high to be the top of a ballast tank? More like a window to the sole.

So....low lying bilge water? Not sure how far rear the WBT extends? Guess you can see while looking forward via bilge access.

Wrong view: but the WBT extends pretty far rearwards.

 

[twalker H260]

That is water sitting on top of the ballast tank. It needs to be pumped out and mopped up. Several places that this water could come from - including leak in the area of the mast step, leaking ports, leaking anchor locker. Leaks in fresh water containers, lines and tanks can also fill this area depending on how the boat is sitting. You can view the area between the sole and the top of the ballast tank a bit from the three access hatches under the rear berth mattress.

The top of the ballast tank does have a fairly large area where water can accumulate beneath the cabin sole that will not normally drain. - find the leaks and this area will dry up.

 

[h2o_snow]

Interesting pic. Is that a H260 layup?

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

The poster never responded back as to a Hunter 26,
There is a floor pan on top of the water ballast tank. The original boat did not have that inspection port. Someone on the production line thought it would be a good idea. Hunter stopped installing that inspection port on my recommendation. To see if there is a water leak on top of the water tank, take your hand underneath the rear berth and feel forward on top of that hump which is the water tank. If dry, no issues. Wear gloves as there may be some fiberglass chards there which you can sand off.

 

[twalker H260]

Interesting pic. Is that a H260 layup?

Yes - that is the top of the ballast tank being installed on the 26/260. Forward “pier” is the location of the compression post/bracket for Center board. Aft “pier” is the ballast tank fill valve at the base of the cabin steps.