Can't find that darn leak !!

[Albert]

I recently purchased 1980 27' Hunter. Much to my dismay I am taking salt water from somewhere. Stuffing box leaks a little but seem to be under control. or I have found water collects behind stringer aft of bildge. Note; stringer has no hole in it to allow water through. Any ideas and or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Terry]

Albert, your stuffing box should not leak...

at rest. If it is you need to tighten the nut one quarter turn at a time until it stops. Usually 1/4 turn should do it unless the packing material is shot.Also, check all of your through hulls. My speed meter through hull was leaking because I had not tightened it properly the last time I cleaned it.Terry

 

[Don Berger]

Rudder post

If your shaft box is leaking, I'd bet the rudder stuffing box is leaking too - sounds like the only other external source in that areaDon

 

[J. Tesoriero]

Another possible source

Not to be an alarmist but you should check your shaft log thru hull. In the 1980's Hunter used a bronze shaft tube on some (mine is a H30) boats instead of a glassed in tube. This fitting can corrode and fracture, especially in the warm waters down south. May start as a trickle but can turn into a deluge. The thru hull fitting is behind your stuffing box and the rubber hose for the stuffing box is mounted on the bronze tube. If you have such a set up, you will see three or four bolt heads sticking through the hull around the shaft tube and shaft. There is a metal flange on the outside of the hull around the shaft. Mine broke just before I had the boat hauled last fall and my bilge pump was able to handle the leak. My yard could not find a replacement and had to have a new one made up.

 

[David Foster]

Cockpit Drains

Check the fittings and hoses of the cockpit drains, too. At higher speed, the wake rises up over the outlet, forcing water into our cockpit when we are at hull speed. We once had a big leak when an old drain hose was blown off its fitting while cleaning it out with a hose!DavidLady Lillie