Can't Find that darn leak !

N

NEWELLMIKE8

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Nov 3, 2022
1
Hunter 340 Bronte Harbour, Oakville, On
Hello everyone - I have a miserable little dribble coming from the hole at the bottom of my main bilge. The hole seems to be a drain for a cavity between the two bilges. I have no idea where that cavity goes, or what could be feeding it. The leak only happens when the boat is in the water, which leads me to believe it is hull related. It takes about a day for water to build up in the bilge, but it doesn't actually overflow it. The bilge pump easily handles it, but I hate the idea of my boat leaking.

So far, I have checked and rechecked all of the through hulls and they are fine. I have crawled around the inside of the boat and can't find any water. I have pulled up all of the flooring and no water. No leaks from the fresh water tank and plumbing. Yesterday, after haul out I filled the cavity with coloured water and plugged the drain hole. No leaks from the hull.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for any ideas.
Mike

Mike
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
23,160
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Welcome to the SBO forum, Mike.

The hole to describe sounds like a limber hole. One of many that are designed to let water that gets into the boat a pathway to the bilge where it can be pumped out.

The source could be anywhere. Your only hope would be to try and trace the water back from where you see it to the source.
 
rgranger

rgranger

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Jan 19, 2010
12,572
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
It could be condensation. You are in Ontario? I'm guessing the water is a lot colder than the air and if that is the case, your hull below the water line would be cold and moisture in the air would condense on the hull sides.

Do you see that? Maybe take a paper towel and run it along the hull below the water line and see if it is damp.

If that is the case then you would need to put insulation on the hull to stop the condensation.
 
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Likes: JamesG161
JamesG161

JamesG161

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Feb 14, 2014
7,770
Hunter 430 Waveland, MS
Food for thought...

1) Every leak on a Hunter drains to the Main Bilge, exceptions being your Fuel tank and Engine compartment.

NEWELLMIKE8 said:
The leak only happens when the boat is in the water
Click to expand
2) This strongly suggests Keel bolt leaks or Shaft leaks.
3) Condensate per @rgranger is a good thought. Boat in Cold Water versus out of water changes Temperture profiles
4) A slight drip from any Thru hull that is below the boats water line is a suspect too.

It took me 9 months to find and stop all water intrusion leaks on my H430.

Jim...
 
sailcapt340

sailcapt340

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Sep 26, 2008
712
Hunter 340 0 Wickford, RI
Mike,
Could you add a photo of the bilge(s) you are asking about? We might be able to clear it up if see the area.
 
Hollyberry

Hollyberry

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Sep 24, 2021
386
Beneteau 35s5 Telegraph hrbr Thetis Island
If the floor/stringer/grid moldings are hollow you may have a leak that is channeled by one of those sections and coming in somehow under the grid itself..

Certain it's not weather/rain related?
 
buddy0

buddy0

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Sep 17, 2014
49
Hunter 33 Oriental, NC
You didn't mention checking the stuffing box / prop shaft.
 
isaksp00

isaksp00

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Apr 27, 2010
1,279
Hunter 23 Lake Wallenpaupack
What kind of boat? Sounds like you may have a trailer boat. My H23 would do that after it had been on the trailer. But afloat, once all the water seeped out and I removed it, it stayed dry. I think water must have been getting in somewhere when it wasn't level.
 
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