H23 gas tank location

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Louis

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Nov 21, 2007
56
Hunter H23 Verplanck, NY Hudson River
Hello! My is my first posting to the forum! I have just bought a 1986 Hunter 23. It is on a trailer. The wing keel was very rusty, so I have removed the rust with a grinder and painted it with two coats of Interlux 2002E. After the winter, I will also do the bottom of the boat with the same and then apply an anti-foulant paint (from what I have read, the ablative-type seems best). My problem is cleaning the bottom of the wing keel. Any sugestions on safely raising the boat at a reasonable cost so I can work on the bottom of the keel? Thanks!
 
Jun 3, 2004
232
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I've never bothered...

I'm sure the bottom of my wing is rusty but I've never worried about it. If I never turtle her nobody is ever going to know. I'll be long dead before it rusts away from the bottom up... By the way: I keep my gas tank under the flip up seat to starboard but I've seen one that was customized to keep it in the lazarette and they cut a hole in the stern for the gas line. They ran the line through a small chrome dorade to prevent rain water from coming in the hole.
 
Jun 27, 2004
122
Hunter 25.5 Cocoa Beach, FL
I did mine on the trailer

but it wasn't easy. I jacked the side bunks enough to get the keel exposed over it's bunk and was able to do an adequate job. Removing the keel bunk would give better access I suppose. Once that was done I lowered it back in place and painted the hull around the bunks. I then butressed the hull with beams and lowered the side bunk on the side I was painting to expose the unpainted section. After drying I returned the bunk to support the boat and then did the other side. Be very careful for as you can imagine this could be disastrous if the boat shifts.
 
Dec 1, 2005
87
Hunter 23 Pennsville
I'm with Steve

I just get what I can reach. Trying to do anything more is inviting trouble. every year before bottom paint goes on I touch it up some with a wire brush and some rust inhibitor, keeps it satisfactory for winter haul-out. Its still in reasonable shape after twenty years, I expect it'll still be doing what its supposed to after twenty more if I put much more care in it or not.
 

Louis

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Nov 21, 2007
56
Hunter H23 Verplanck, NY Hudson River
Wing keel revisted

Thanks for the useful suggestions. I really don't fancy have an 2000+ lb. object balanced above me! I had another look today, and since the keel bunk is under just the very bottom of the keel,I can cut out the portions under the wings of the keel to the metal of the trailer frame and then remove the rust and re-paint the wing bottoms. I will leave the very bottom of the keel for 'another day'! BTW, on my boat the seat on the sarboard side does not raise, but the area under it is open. I was hoping to put the cooler there! I guess the gas tank with have to be put there instead.
 
Dec 1, 2005
87
Hunter 23 Pennsville
Yup

The cooler goes aft the step under the electric box. only place its out of the way.
 
Dec 1, 2007
74
-Hunter -23 Kenora, Ontario, Canada
Added zinc anodes.

I am another that doesn't worry about the wing bottoms. I reach in with my hand as far as I can with some light sandpaper, then get what I can with a small foam brush when painting. One thing I've done on my keel that has slowed the rust considerably is added a zinc anode to each side of the keel. I bought the "half tear drop shaped" kind and drilled and tapped holes in the keel to mount. They are about 3 or 4 inches long and about 1 1/2 inches deep, so I don't think they disturb the water flow much. -Chris
 
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