Finally found Ballast tank leak!!!!!!

[Greg]

Well after months and months of searching i finally found the leak in my ballast tank. It turns out that its under where the table mounts in the cabin. I first drilled out the screw holes to peek in there, sure enough there was water. After a few failed attempts to stop the leak i finally ended up doing major surgery. I had to cut the area where the table mount pole fits in the floor. Once i got in there i found a big glob of what looks like fiberglass filler. I could see water seeping from below the glob. I thought at first that maybe the glob was just there to help support the table mount position, but as i CAREFULLY chisled that stuff out of there, i can see the top of the ballast tank. Looks like the factory used the stuff to patch a hole there. The reason i say factory is there is no way the previous owner could get in there to put that much filler. Anyway, once i get all the old filler out and patch the hole i should be good to go.Crazy Dave-- have you had experience with any of your boats with problems like this? Mine is a 94 H23.5... I dont know how common it was/is for hunter to use the filler like that but i guess it just started leaking with age.Now i have to come up with a way to fix the table mounting hole so its functional again.Greg

 

[Rick Webb]

Glad and Sorry

Glad to hear you found the leak sorry to hear it was almost a major deal to fix it. We never use our table in the cabin. Are you sure you need to make it functional?

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Explanation

The water ballast tank lid is one unit bonbed to the hull; therefore, it is not two halves put together. What you saw was marine putty that was put into place for support only. I wonder what you saw was water trapped there. since you did not tell me if the boat was in the water or not, I am not sure if any leak came from there. Put the boat back into the water and see. If not, then take the boat to a professional who knows how to do glass work as it would appear that youa do not have the experience. Fiberglass is easy but you have to know what you are doing.good luck Crazy Dave Condon.

 

[Greg]

Top of the tank?

I got all the filler out-- the boat is in the water with the tank filled. When i look down in the hole, i can see water slowly seeping through the glass. Look as if the resin wasnt that thick there and the water finally penetrated through. I plan on pulling the boat out and do the repairs. I'm guessing all i would need is a glass repair kit to reinforce that area. As for repairing the table mount, even tho i dont use it that much i will still need to have it right in the event i ever sell the boat.ANyway... more to come.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Sometimes it happens

Gregg;Do the repair so you can use the boat but let someone else do the cosmetics as you are not experienced and a turn off to someone buying a boat is to step in and see something. Crazy Dave