I,m in the process of purchasing a H37c 1980 model. Previous experience has been with wooden yachts and wet (very) bilges. The vessel I,m purchasing has approx 2 to 3 inches of water starting forward before the mast step. The owner says that this is normal for this model also that the dripless stuffing box has a constant drip and that this is also normal. I thought dripless meant that.??? Anyone have any advice on the wet bilge, is it normal or not. I thought going to fiberglass after wood, I'd have a nice dry bilge.
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My Cheribini H30 bilge is DRY.
I am not sure about a 1980 H37, but I recently reconditioned a 1982 Cheribini Hunter 30 that had previously suffered from water over the floorboards. After replacing all of the thru hull gatevalves, the cockpit drain hoses, scupper hoses, port gaskets and installing dripless stuffing box, my bilge if Bone Dry. It has been in the water, and has been motored several times since May 06. (I used some green teflon stuff from West Marine sandwiched between two rings of traditional stuffing box material. This was installed into a traditional stuffing box. There is no drip, and the shaft is barely warm to the touch.) Richard
I am not sure about a 1980 H37, but I recently reconditioned a 1982 Cheribini Hunter 30 that had previously suffered from water over the floorboards. After replacing all of the thru hull gatevalves, the cockpit drain hoses, scupper hoses, port gaskets and installing dripless stuffing box, my bilge if Bone Dry. It has been in the water, and has been motored several times since May 06. (I used some green teflon stuff from West Marine sandwiched between two rings of traditional stuffing box material. This was installed into a traditional stuffing box. There is no drip, and the shaft is barely warm to the touch.) Richard
My 37 is not
My bilge wetness comes and goes a bit, depending on how long the boat sits, or is run. But is is never completely dry, from several sources: the shaft packing allows some drip, a lot of rain on the deck seems to find a way to weep into the bilge in small amounts, and most recently, when the fresh water plumbing system had a leak it kept mysteriously filling the bilge. It turned out that a small drip at a loose conection was allowing the fresh water to flow in. Then recently I noticed the caulk around the base of the mast was going, which allowed small amounts to come down the mast. IF you have a dripless stuffing box, I'd check the lines for the fresh water plumbing first. Then look at the hot water heater connections(if you have any). Good luck S.
My bilge wetness comes and goes a bit, depending on how long the boat sits, or is run. But is is never completely dry, from several sources: the shaft packing allows some drip, a lot of rain on the deck seems to find a way to weep into the bilge in small amounts, and most recently, when the fresh water plumbing system had a leak it kept mysteriously filling the bilge. It turned out that a small drip at a loose conection was allowing the fresh water to flow in. Then recently I noticed the caulk around the base of the mast was going, which allowed small amounts to come down the mast. IF you have a dripless stuffing box, I'd check the lines for the fresh water plumbing first. Then look at the hot water heater connections(if you have any). Good luck S.
Bilge is dry unless it rains
. I can find no leaks, so I assume some rain comes in through the mast, especially when wind driven. The low spot in the bilge is at foot of compainion way steps. So pump that area dry and see what happens over a couple of days. If boat is saltwater berthed, do a finger drip/lick test to see if you are dealing with rain/leaking domestic water system or seawater.
. I can find no leaks, so I assume some rain comes in through the mast, especially when wind driven. The low spot in the bilge is at foot of compainion way steps. So pump that area dry and see what happens over a couple of days. If boat is saltwater berthed, do a finger drip/lick test to see if you are dealing with rain/leaking domestic water system or seawater.
Nothing in my bilge but dust
Ihave a 1976 Hunter 30, and all the plumbing, tanks, hatches and ports are new, and I have no water at all. I used the Teflon coated packing (3/16" for a Hunter 30) with the original stuffing box and havent touched it since. Its been in the water two seasons, and I keep thinking I should be repacking it, but I have never even tightened it, and my inclination is to leave it as is. I get a few drops every now and then, but the shaft never gets warm or hot, and everything runs fine. You way want to check your toe rail bolts, stanchion bolts, and the forward cleats. I took me a while to get the to stop leaking.
Ihave a 1976 Hunter 30, and all the plumbing, tanks, hatches and ports are new, and I have no water at all. I used the Teflon coated packing (3/16" for a Hunter 30) with the original stuffing box and havent touched it since. Its been in the water two seasons, and I keep thinking I should be repacking it, but I have never even tightened it, and my inclination is to leave it as is. I get a few drops every now and then, but the shaft never gets warm or hot, and everything runs fine. You way want to check your toe rail bolts, stanchion bolts, and the forward cleats. I took me a while to get the to stop leaking.
Teflon Flax
Bob, I have the exact same experience with Teflon Flax in an all bronze stuffing box on my Hunter 28.5. Particularly if you install it with the blue/green teflon grease that you can buy with the Teflon flax, you almost can't get water to go past it. I've had the same thought and have backed it off a 1/4 turn at a time. I get about enough water that you can mop it up with one Kleanex and the shaft shows no heat after about 1-1/2 hours of motoring. Heavy wind driven rains from the stern sometimes result in a little water in the sail locker which ultimately finds its way past the fuel tank and into the main bilge. I have friends who have keel stepped masts and always have some water in their bilge.
Bob, I have the exact same experience with Teflon Flax in an all bronze stuffing box on my Hunter 28.5. Particularly if you install it with the blue/green teflon grease that you can buy with the Teflon flax, you almost can't get water to go past it. I've had the same thought and have backed it off a 1/4 turn at a time. I get about enough water that you can mop it up with one Kleanex and the shaft shows no heat after about 1-1/2 hours of motoring. Heavy wind driven rains from the stern sometimes result in a little water in the sail locker which ultimately finds its way past the fuel tank and into the main bilge. I have friends who have keel stepped masts and always have some water in their bilge.
Rain in the bilge
My '80 H37C always had some water in the bilge at the bottom of the companion way steps. While the boat was in the yard for 3 months I discovered that the water came down the inside of the mast when it rains. Jerry s/v Makai
My '80 H37C always had some water in the bilge at the bottom of the companion way steps. While the boat was in the yard for 3 months I discovered that the water came down the inside of the mast when it rains. Jerry s/v Makai
small amouts of water get into the boat
I have a 1981 H27, and when I bought the boat, I routinely had minor amounts of water getting into the bilge. In the 3 years I've had the boat, I've traced it as follows: 1. Cabintop. Someone had poorly installed a solar vent into the cabintop. It leaked a lot of water into the boat - down the mast step, through the portholes, lots of ways. This past summer I dried out/resealed/epoxied the cabintop and replaced the solar vent with an Dorade box, and I get almost no water. Some of the cabintop leaks also came from poorly bedded handrails and fittings, so be sure those are solid too. 2. Rubrail and deck fittings. I got some small amounts of water through poorly bedded fittings and fasteners. I've slowly traced all of these. Most of these leaks made their way into the cabin lockers, and I'd sometimes find a couple inches of water in the bottom of a locker. I drilled 1/4" holes at the low points in each locker, and voila! no more wet lockers. ever. If any water is getting into them now, it immediately goes through the drain holes into the bilge. 3 Stuffing box. Last year I repacked my stuffing box with the green teflon stuff, and it works like magic. I can't tell if I'm getting any water through the box, but I doubt it. 4. Exhaust system leaks. I had a small tear in my exhaust hose, which let some water (and exhaust gas) into the cabin. 5. Water system leaks. Similarly, I had a small leak in one of my pressurized water hoses. traced and eliminated. THis past season, I do not believe my bilge pump came on once, although I did have minor amounts of water (say, 1 gallon) in the bilge. Hope this helps. Pete
I have a 1981 H27, and when I bought the boat, I routinely had minor amounts of water getting into the bilge. In the 3 years I've had the boat, I've traced it as follows: 1. Cabintop. Someone had poorly installed a solar vent into the cabintop. It leaked a lot of water into the boat - down the mast step, through the portholes, lots of ways. This past summer I dried out/resealed/epoxied the cabintop and replaced the solar vent with an Dorade box, and I get almost no water. Some of the cabintop leaks also came from poorly bedded handrails and fittings, so be sure those are solid too. 2. Rubrail and deck fittings. I got some small amounts of water through poorly bedded fittings and fasteners. I've slowly traced all of these. Most of these leaks made their way into the cabin lockers, and I'd sometimes find a couple inches of water in the bottom of a locker. I drilled 1/4" holes at the low points in each locker, and voila! no more wet lockers. ever. If any water is getting into them now, it immediately goes through the drain holes into the bilge. 3 Stuffing box. Last year I repacked my stuffing box with the green teflon stuff, and it works like magic. I can't tell if I'm getting any water through the box, but I doubt it. 4. Exhaust system leaks. I had a small tear in my exhaust hose, which let some water (and exhaust gas) into the cabin. 5. Water system leaks. Similarly, I had a small leak in one of my pressurized water hoses. traced and eliminated. THis past season, I do not believe my bilge pump came on once, although I did have minor amounts of water (say, 1 gallon) in the bilge. Hope this helps. Pete
My Bilges
I've never dried-out my Bilges to find out if they would stay that way. Bought the boat with a few inches of water in the Bilges and it's still there, although with some Anti-freeze now. The Bilge Pump won't dry the Bilge out anyway. Another source for water besides the usual suspects is the Cooler. Even tho mine has been upgraded to a Refer unit the drain in the bottom is still there and any spills or thawing out and the water goes into the Bilges. Water in the Bilges of a Fiber Boat isn't a big deal. Only if the Bilge Pump is running daily, then you have something to worry about. You might consider a Counter, for your Bilge Pump if you have a concern.
I've never dried-out my Bilges to find out if they would stay that way. Bought the boat with a few inches of water in the Bilges and it's still there, although with some Anti-freeze now. The Bilge Pump won't dry the Bilge out anyway. Another source for water besides the usual suspects is the Cooler. Even tho mine has been upgraded to a Refer unit the drain in the bottom is still there and any spills or thawing out and the water goes into the Bilges. Water in the Bilges of a Fiber Boat isn't a big deal. Only if the Bilge Pump is running daily, then you have something to worry about. You might consider a Counter, for your Bilge Pump if you have a concern.
My H37c bilge is dry
My bilge stays dry except when it rains and a small amount comes down the mast, or I'm using a hose to wash out the dust thru the 2,000 GPH bilge pump.
My bilge stays dry except when it rains and a small amount comes down the mast, or I'm using a hose to wash out the dust thru the 2,000 GPH bilge pump.
Not going to be dry with a keel stepped mast.
Max: It is doubtful that you are going to have a dry bilge with a keel stepped mast and/or a traditional stuffing box. There are other places for water in the bilge including showers & ice box drains.
Max: It is doubtful that you are going to have a dry bilge with a keel stepped mast and/or a traditional stuffing box. There are other places for water in the bilge including showers & ice box drains.
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