Saturday Morning I awoke to a call from the Coast Guard telling me my boat (1984 22' Hunter) had sunk at the dock. Not a good way to start the day! With some help from friends and neighbors we refloated her. She immediately began to take on water again but we couldn't tell from where. With much effort we got the boat trailered! At that time the only water coming OUT of the boat was through the swing keel housing. I pumped water most of the day. Once the water level was below the keel housing there was nolonger a leak there. I've searched the hull for physical damage and can find none. With a small amount of water still inside the boat there are no leaks visible. Any one know of anything which could cause a castrophic leak such as this and leave little evidence. She took on enough water in one night to sink her. After being refloated she appeared to be taking on about 8' of water per hour. Any ideas as to how to find the leak? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
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David
Leak
Now that the vessel is on land could you start filling with a hose to try and locate the leak? If you have salt water already on the interior then the fresh water should do additional damage.
Now that the vessel is on land could you start filling with a hose to try and locate the leak? If you have salt water already on the interior then the fresh water should do additional damage.
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john
I havew seen this occur before...
In my bay, this happened to a 1971 crysler. sunk to the bottom. Here is what sometimes happens: - the cable lets go on the swing keep and the trust of all the mass of the keel falling can crack the pivot point where it swings. -sometimes the keel shifts in the housing. this shifting can rub against the keel housing creating a leak in the area where the housing trunk meets the bottom of the hull. I have read about some people that have installed thin teak, mahogany or plastitc strips in the trunk to prevent the keel from rubbing against the trunk.
In my bay, this happened to a 1971 crysler. sunk to the bottom. Here is what sometimes happens: - the cable lets go on the swing keep and the trust of all the mass of the keel falling can crack the pivot point where it swings. -sometimes the keel shifts in the housing. this shifting can rub against the keel housing creating a leak in the area where the housing trunk meets the bottom of the hull. I have read about some people that have installed thin teak, mahogany or plastitc strips in the trunk to prevent the keel from rubbing against the trunk.
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mike
h22 sinking
Did you lift up the floorboards and inspect the 4 bolts holding the centerboard brackets in place to ensure they are all still there? Also, check the area on the trunk around those bolts - the fiberglass there may be damaged. Also check your sink's through hull and valve for possible failure. I would also inspect the hoses in the stern.
Did you lift up the floorboards and inspect the 4 bolts holding the centerboard brackets in place to ensure they are all still there? Also, check the area on the trunk around those bolts - the fiberglass there may be damaged. Also check your sink's through hull and valve for possible failure. I would also inspect the hoses in the stern.
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Ed Fluss
COCKPIT DRAIN HOSES
Check the cockpit drain hoses in the stern, way back. There are two hoses that "Y" into a hose that drains at the base of the stern of the boat. These hoses or hose clamps could have rotted out.
Check the cockpit drain hoses in the stern, way back. There are two hoses that "Y" into a hose that drains at the base of the stern of the boat. These hoses or hose clamps could have rotted out.
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george mc
hunter leak
Had the same problem but caught it before the boat sunk. If your taking that much water on I would say it's the hose in the stern.When you put the new hose back on use a good caulk and double your hose clamps. While your at it I would rebed the centerboard as well.It very seldome is the through hull from the sink.Once you get the centerboard and the new hose you should be in good shape for a while. Good luck George
Had the same problem but caught it before the boat sunk. If your taking that much water on I would say it's the hose in the stern.When you put the new hose back on use a good caulk and double your hose clamps. While your at it I would rebed the centerboard as well.It very seldome is the through hull from the sink.Once you get the centerboard and the new hose you should be in good shape for a while. Good luck George
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Seth
Agree
Thru-hull, hoses, and bolts are the three most likly places from which you would take-on water. Agree if you are taking on that much it mist be the cockpit hoses in the stern (you need to be a small guy to get back there!). I recently dropped my board and found that the pivot bolt ends had worn through the glass in the trunk and there were delaminations from stress and rubbing. The glass in the trunk is only about an 1/8 inch thick! You may have multiple points of failure, but, again, the hoses seem the most likly failue in this case.
Thru-hull, hoses, and bolts are the three most likly places from which you would take-on water. Agree if you are taking on that much it mist be the cockpit hoses in the stern (you need to be a small guy to get back there!). I recently dropped my board and found that the pivot bolt ends had worn through the glass in the trunk and there were delaminations from stress and rubbing. The glass in the trunk is only about an 1/8 inch thick! You may have multiple points of failure, but, again, the hoses seem the most likly failue in this case.
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george mc
getting to the rear hoses
I use to have a hard time getting to the rear hoses as i'm over 6ft. tall and weigh over 200# and 62 yrs old I had to find an easier way.So I took the wood out that separates the rear port locker from the main cabin and everything you have to do or see is right in front of you.Also I remove the bolts and plates in the centerboard use lifeseal or 5200. Make sure and clean it real good with carburator cleaner. Spray the cleaner on leave it soak in a few minutes and scrap it and sand it clean before you apply your new caulk.If you have a bunk board trailer you should be able to drop the centerboard do everything and have it replaced in about three hours by yourself. If you have a bunk board trailer let me know and i'll tell you how I do mine. Good luck George
I use to have a hard time getting to the rear hoses as i'm over 6ft. tall and weigh over 200# and 62 yrs old I had to find an easier way.So I took the wood out that separates the rear port locker from the main cabin and everything you have to do or see is right in front of you.Also I remove the bolts and plates in the centerboard use lifeseal or 5200. Make sure and clean it real good with carburator cleaner. Spray the cleaner on leave it soak in a few minutes and scrap it and sand it clean before you apply your new caulk.If you have a bunk board trailer you should be able to drop the centerboard do everything and have it replaced in about three hours by yourself. If you have a bunk board trailer let me know and i'll tell you how I do mine. Good luck George
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Eric Schmidt
dropping the keel with a bunk board trailer
George, I just read your article. I just bought a used Hunter 22. It is on a bunk board trailer. I want to drop the keel and inspect everything without taking her off the trailer. How did you do it? Thanx
George, I just read your article. I just bought a used Hunter 22. It is on a bunk board trailer. I want to drop the keel and inspect everything without taking her off the trailer. How did you do it? Thanx
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Slim
Line to swing keel
John's description of a break in the line used to hoist the swing keel strikes me as entirely possible. On my Hunter 26, the weight of the keel is pretty heavy; if it all slammed down at once, it seems like something could break. My boat is a 1994. How often do people recommend changing the hoist line for the swing keel on the Hunter water-ballast boats?
John's description of a break in the line used to hoist the swing keel strikes me as entirely possible. On my Hunter 26, the weight of the keel is pretty heavy; if it all slammed down at once, it seems like something could break. My boat is a 1994. How often do people recommend changing the hoist line for the swing keel on the Hunter water-ballast boats?
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