Cockpit drain throughhulls

Aug 17, 2013
26
Hunter 34 Vallejo
I've been trying to locate a plumbing schematic for my H34 in order to determine the location of the throughhull for the stbd cockpit drain. Is it below the waterline? I could simply pour a bucket of water through and observe however my boat is several hours from my residence so I'm imposing on the helpfulness of my fellow Hunter Owners on the blog. Many thanks.
 
Jun 3, 2004
890
Hunter 34 Toronto, Ontario Canada
The cockpit thru hulls exit at the stern just under the bottom edge. They are normally just below the water line- perhaps not if the boat is not moving and isn't so heavily loaded that the stern sits down in the water. If you look at it out of the water you will see 2 holes on the stbd side- one being the exhaust and the other the drain, one only on the port side- the drain
 

splax

.
Nov 12, 2012
694
Hunter 34 Portsmouth
Remember the STBD drain exits the PORT side through-hull and the PORT drain exits to STBD.
 
Dec 14, 2003
1,442
Hunter 34 Lake of Two Mountains, QC, Can
Remember the STBD drain exits the PORT side through-hull and the PORT drain exits to STBD.
Perhaps that's the way it should be, but on my 34 and several others that I have seen, it is not the case. And in 14 years I have never had water come up through the drain even when heeled severely. In fact, one must wonder how water would exit from a port drain connected on a starboard through hull as it would possibly need to be pumped since it would have to go up. On my boat, with the port and STB drains connected to Port and STB through-hulls, gravity evacuates the water very well even when the through-hull is under water. Perhaps the communicating vases principle ? I'd like to hear from others on this.
 

Attachments

Jun 3, 2004
890
Hunter 34 Toronto, Ontario Canada
Mine are not crossed either- the cockpit floor is high enough on the 34 that I have never had a problem even with the rail in.
 

splax

.
Nov 12, 2012
694
Hunter 34 Portsmouth
OK, mine may not be crossed either. I haven't made it back underneath to check. I was just repeating sound principle. I know of boat drains that were repaired and not crossed as manufactured that have become an issue of flooding a bit when heeled over. If the 34 cockpit is high enough for that not to be an issue, I stand corrected.
 

JWC

.
Aug 28, 2011
29
Hunter 40 Phuket
They are definitely crossed from original on the 34 and they work very well. The 40 has the same set up, crossed and again fine performance.
 
Nov 5, 2009
62
Hunter 34 Quebec
They are not crossed from factory, the tube in the aft berth goes aft and in this compartment there is a small longitudinal bulkhead blocking access to the other side (stbd locker)

I strongly suggest you inspect the tubing, while removing one a few weeks ago, it broke in many parts with minimal pressure, the plastic being very brittle. To do both side you need a bit less than 10 foot of 1.5" hose (about 30$ for good quality)
 

Mark48

.
Mar 1, 2008
166
Hunter 34 Milwaukee
Mine are not crossed either. I will also note that it is not unusual for the starboard tube to leak when heeled roughly 15 degrees or more because of poor connection of the tube to the hull (the heel puts the drain under water. The leaking can cause rot in the galley floor as it only occurs on a stargoard heel and then the water runs down the liner to the galley.
 
Nov 5, 2009
62
Hunter 34 Quebec
Have you confirmed that the leak come from improper bonding between the fiberglass tube and the hull?

At first glance it would seem more likely to come from the joint between the flexible tubing and the fiberglass tubing, especially because common 1.5" ID tubing fit very loosely over the fiberglass used by Hunter. (around 1.375 OD).
 

Mark48

.
Mar 1, 2008
166
Hunter 34 Milwaukee
Definitely a poor bonding job. I could stick a probe in about 3/4 of an inch from the outside of the tube and if you looked inside while on a heel you could see the water trickle in.
 
Nov 5, 2009
62
Hunter 34 Quebec
Hmm ok, guest sometimes we are right about bashing a bit on Hunter!

in 1985 on mine they got them fairly well made
 

Mark48

.
Mar 1, 2008
166
Hunter 34 Milwaukee
There is always the possibility that a PO broke it loose, I have been making a hobby of pulling excess wire (lamp wire) from all around the boat as well.
 
Nov 5, 2009
62
Hunter 34 Quebec
PO... yeah... I had some fun removing glued-on flooring on the bulkheads, along with the fake-wood plastic trim nailed into place :p
 
Oct 14, 2005
2,191
1983 Hunter H34 North East, MD
Don't forget...

These boats are now 30 or almost 30 years old. The resins of yesteryear may not be as strong as today's fresh and new ones. The brutal cold of the Great White North may also play a part in the brittleness of the fabricated hose connectors Hunter made for the cockpit drains and engine exhaust. If the starboard side is the leak source, "stuff" rattling around inside the starboard cockpit locker over time could be the blame for cracks, etc.
 
Nov 5, 2009
62
Hunter 34 Quebec
Well, yesterday we had a nice little storm and the hose that I did not change yet (stbd one) cracked and the bilge filled completely with water, funny how these things happen right when we speak about them;P

Both sides are new now, should be good for another 30 years!
 
  • Like
Likes: mnmpizza