Fresh water keeps finding its way into the bilge of my '90 H30. I thought it was rainwater leakage, and looked for the leak by sealing all openings, pressurizing the cabin with a window fan, and brushing soap suds on the deck (recommended by Hunter). No luck. Yesterday, I worked on the boat and the bildge was dry. Today I stopped by and the bilge was full to the pump/float switch level. Clear skies yesterday and today. Checked the fresh water pump, hotwater tank and lines, all look okay. There is something about the bowels of this boat I don't know about. Anybody had a similar problem or creative soltution?
Fresh Water in the Bilge
- Thread starter Dean Strong
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Franklin
Water tank?
Sounds like it has to be the fresh water supply. I would empty the tank and see if that stops the leak. If so, then you know it's in the fresh water system. Then disconnect and plug the hoses from the tank and add to tank. Keep doing these until you've narrowed it down. Then you know what to inspect carefully.
Sounds like it has to be the fresh water supply. I would empty the tank and see if that stops the leak. If so, then you know it's in the fresh water system. Then disconnect and plug the hoses from the tank and add to tank. Keep doing these until you've narrowed it down. Then you know what to inspect carefully.
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Mike Jaeger
Ice Melting in your Ice Box?
You do know your ice box drains into your bilge? I guess that would be to easy. Try drying it out and check around your keel bolts for moisture comming in around them. Sorry for the smart answer.
You do know your ice box drains into your bilge? I guess that would be to easy. Try drying it out and check around your keel bolts for moisture comming in around them. Sorry for the smart answer.
No Ice
Actually, the ice box drain is plugged---with many layers of insulation. The ice box has three shelves installed, with the top shelf reserved for ice, which we carry in two large tupperware containers. The higher the ice in the box, the cooler the temp. With a drain in the bottom, not only does the water drain out, but so does the cold air. Nice try though.
Actually, the ice box drain is plugged---with many layers of insulation. The ice box has three shelves installed, with the top shelf reserved for ice, which we carry in two large tupperware containers. The higher the ice in the box, the cooler the temp. With a drain in the bottom, not only does the water drain out, but so does the cold air. Nice try though.
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Andre K. 1991 Hunter 30
Gremlin quaters under the floor
TO add to the confusion I would like to post another question on this topic: where does the shower drain water go? Does it drain to the bilge? through where? is there a dead area under the floor that water can accumulate and somewhat eventually sip into the bilge? Maybe this will help to uncover tha spot where the gremlins reside !
TO add to the confusion I would like to post another question on this topic: where does the shower drain water go? Does it drain to the bilge? through where? is there a dead area under the floor that water can accumulate and somewhat eventually sip into the bilge? Maybe this will help to uncover tha spot where the gremlins reside !
Shower water
Hunter uses a "pan" construction, in that a floor pan is bonded to the outer hull, leaving a space between what we see as the bilge and the hull. Some hoses and wires run within this space, which is not accessable. The shower water runs openly from the drain, into this space,and eventually into the bilge. This is also the source of many of the posted odor complaints. Mold and mildew grow easily in this damp space. I, like others, have drilled weep holes through the pan at the bilge opening below the large openings that are already there to keep water levels below the pan lower. This is also a good reason for installing a sump w/pump in the head if one is serious about using the shower. So...I already know this mysterious fresh water is flowing between the hull and the pan, to eventually find its way into the bilge. The question is, from where or what?
Hunter uses a "pan" construction, in that a floor pan is bonded to the outer hull, leaving a space between what we see as the bilge and the hull. Some hoses and wires run within this space, which is not accessable. The shower water runs openly from the drain, into this space,and eventually into the bilge. This is also the source of many of the posted odor complaints. Mold and mildew grow easily in this damp space. I, like others, have drilled weep holes through the pan at the bilge opening below the large openings that are already there to keep water levels below the pan lower. This is also a good reason for installing a sump w/pump in the head if one is serious about using the shower. So...I already know this mysterious fresh water is flowing between the hull and the pan, to eventually find its way into the bilge. The question is, from where or what?
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Andre K. 1991 Hunter 30
mysterious water
It sounds like you have checked just about everything except the integrity of the fresh water supply starling from the tank to the fresh water/pressure pump. I would disconnect the inlet (from the tank)to the pump and the outlet from the pump - either plug them or join them together and than wait to see if you will have any more water coming into the bilge. If at all possible mark the level of fresh water in the tank or fill it up to the top and than check it out in a day or two to see if the levelo of water in the tank has dropped - if the answer is 'yes' than yo uknow where is the source of your leak. Hope this helps. PS. could you be so kind to give me more information about drilling the holes in the pan? me e-mail is : andre.kapuscinskiATene.gov.on.ca Thank you
It sounds like you have checked just about everything except the integrity of the fresh water supply starling from the tank to the fresh water/pressure pump. I would disconnect the inlet (from the tank)to the pump and the outlet from the pump - either plug them or join them together and than wait to see if you will have any more water coming into the bilge. If at all possible mark the level of fresh water in the tank or fill it up to the top and than check it out in a day or two to see if the levelo of water in the tank has dropped - if the answer is 'yes' than yo uknow where is the source of your leak. Hope this helps. PS. could you be so kind to give me more information about drilling the holes in the pan? me e-mail is : andre.kapuscinskiATene.gov.on.ca Thank you
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Bill O'Donovan
To Dean's point....
The water draining from the shower, as well as from other points, does indeed trickel eventually into the bilge. Every fall I spray a half a cup of baking soda into each mysterious hole, followed by a quart of vinegar in each hole to create a foamy cleanser. Then I follow with boiling water and cold water after that. It's a big, bold mess but it produces some pretty weird stuff in the bilge, which is then cleaned out. As a result, no odors whatsoever.
The water draining from the shower, as well as from other points, does indeed trickel eventually into the bilge. Every fall I spray a half a cup of baking soda into each mysterious hole, followed by a quart of vinegar in each hole to create a foamy cleanser. Then I follow with boiling water and cold water after that. It's a big, bold mess but it produces some pretty weird stuff in the bilge, which is then cleaned out. As a result, no odors whatsoever.
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Andre K. 1991 Hunter 30
To Bill
Bill, (or the others), did you drill some holes in any part of the bilge to get the access to rhe space underneath the bilge floor? Did you install a shower sump pump? Wher did you put all that? Thanks for any help Andre S/Y Schatzi
Bill, (or the others), did you drill some holes in any part of the bilge to get the access to rhe space underneath the bilge floor? Did you install a shower sump pump? Wher did you put all that? Thanks for any help Andre S/Y Schatzi
Bilge Weep Holes
For those that asked about drilling holes... The bottom panel of the bilge is flush up against the keel, so there is no space directly below it. You can access the space between the pan and the outer hull on the sides of the bilge. You should find a couple of large holes for access to bilge pump wiring, etc. If you feel inside, you can tell how high the bilge wall is below the larger hole. Just drill a couple of 1/4 holes at the lowest possible point... Thanks to others for some creative ideas... DRS S/V Synchrony
For those that asked about drilling holes... The bottom panel of the bilge is flush up against the keel, so there is no space directly below it. You can access the space between the pan and the outer hull on the sides of the bilge. You should find a couple of large holes for access to bilge pump wiring, etc. If you feel inside, you can tell how high the bilge wall is below the larger hole. Just drill a couple of 1/4 holes at the lowest possible point... Thanks to others for some creative ideas... DRS S/V Synchrony
Pan design
Good call on the pan design. My 1989 28.5 actually has a loose fitting hose that leads from the head's shower drain to the bilge but it isn't sealed so using the shower still causes water to be in the "pan". When I'm sailing with a pretty good heel I'll notice this water by the galley or navsta floorboards too. I ended up having to remove the floorboard just aft of the bilge access to empty out the remaining water. That area seems to remain dry now until the shower is again used.
Good call on the pan design. My 1989 28.5 actually has a loose fitting hose that leads from the head's shower drain to the bilge but it isn't sealed so using the shower still causes water to be in the "pan". When I'm sailing with a pretty good heel I'll notice this water by the galley or navsta floorboards too. I ended up having to remove the floorboard just aft of the bilge access to empty out the remaining water. That area seems to remain dry now until the shower is again used.
Water
I just discovered the same thing in my 28.5. I was working in the bilge area and removed the water with a sponge. I was thinking the keel bolts were seeping. However, while I sat there and watched, no water showed up. I'd jump off the boat to get a soda at the marina office and when I got back a couple of minutes later, there was water in the bilge. I figured it had to be happening when the boat rocks a little from me getting on and off. I dried our the bilge again and shifted my weight back and forth while watching the bilge. Sure enough, once the boat was rocking, I could see water draining into the bilge from the side. Hunter builds these boats by placing an "inner bilge pan" into the hull. The problem is there's lots of small areas between the two where water can accumulate from a number of sources (shower, ice box, etc.). I talked to a guy at Hunter and he says this hidden water issue is to be expected. There are small weep holes that will allow the water to "migrate" to the bilge when the boat moves around. I'm going to see if I can't come up with a way to remove the water and also prevent it by re-working the drains somehow. There has to be a way to solve this. I wouldn't mind water being down there except that it produces an odor when it stagnates.
I just discovered the same thing in my 28.5. I was working in the bilge area and removed the water with a sponge. I was thinking the keel bolts were seeping. However, while I sat there and watched, no water showed up. I'd jump off the boat to get a soda at the marina office and when I got back a couple of minutes later, there was water in the bilge. I figured it had to be happening when the boat rocks a little from me getting on and off. I dried our the bilge again and shifted my weight back and forth while watching the bilge. Sure enough, once the boat was rocking, I could see water draining into the bilge from the side. Hunter builds these boats by placing an "inner bilge pan" into the hull. The problem is there's lots of small areas between the two where water can accumulate from a number of sources (shower, ice box, etc.). I talked to a guy at Hunter and he says this hidden water issue is to be expected. There are small weep holes that will allow the water to "migrate" to the bilge when the boat moves around. I'm going to see if I can't come up with a way to remove the water and also prevent it by re-working the drains somehow. There has to be a way to solve this. I wouldn't mind water being down there except that it produces an odor when it stagnates.
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