H23 Lumber Holes - Who has them?

[MrUnix]

Recently, I discovered that my cheap bilge pump stopped pumping water.. it sounded like it was, but nothing was being discharged. Upon closer inspection, it turns out that the impeller shaft had corroded and snapped, so the motor would happily spin but wasn't actually turning anything!

The good news is that it's on a trailer, so I don't have to worry about it sinking. The bad news is that the boat had accumulated quite a bit of water in both the bilge and cabin due to the unusual amount of rain we have had the past few months. I was able to find a Rule 2000 pump locally and it did a great job of getting rid of the water in the bilge (under the cockpit), but the water remained in the cabin.

Now, I know from past experience that boats generally have lumber holes strategically placed to let the water trapped in various nooks and crannies work its way back to the bilge. And I know that Hunter does put them in, as there were plenty on my old H27. However, I have looked over and over again, and it seems that there isn't a single one on my H23.. anywhere.. which seems rather odd.

For those who aren't familiar with the H23, the cabin has three small floorboard pieces that you can lift up and use as supports to make the entire cabin a huge queen sized bed. Under those are little dinky mini-bilges and allow access to the keel bolts. But if water gets in them, there is no place for the water to go and it has to be removed with a sponge or rags. Doesn't make sense, and I'm thinking that maybe someone at the factory just forgot to drill them. Maybe not.. I dunno.

So, do any of you H23 owners have lumber holes in those little areas or at the back of the cabin bulkhead? I'm tempted to just go and drill some myself, but I would hate to hit a spot where I might go through the hull or cause any damage. It sure looks like there is a good inch or so between the bottom cabin liner and hull except for right around the keel bolts, but without cutting it up, I can't be sure.

Cheers,
Brad

 

[Kermit]

That's exactly the way mine is. I use a heavy duty sponge and bucket. I haven't quite figured out why sometimes there is water and sometimes there isn't. I never knew the name for the holes, but there are holes running from under the cockpit all the way to the forward end of the cabin seats. I also think there are holes leading to the bilge area you are describing. Gotta love a good sponge!

 

[isaksp00]

I think they are "limber" holes. My 23 has them, drilled in the vertical walls of these pans under the floorboards, very near the bottom of the wall (but not down into the floor), along the centerline of the hull. I imagine the PO did it. I have noted that if there is water inside, and I sponge them or pump them out, it gradually drains back in through these holes, refilling the pans, at least, until all the water drains from wherever it is coming from - probably forward of the bulkhead area leading to the v berth.

 

[mmsailor]

I think they are "limber" holes. My 23 has them, drilled in the vertical walls of these pans under the floorboards, very near the bottom of the wall (but not down into the floor), along the centerline of the hull. I imagine the PO did it. I have noted that if there is water inside, and I sponge them or pump them out, it gradually drains back in through these holes, refilling the pans, at least, until all the water drains from wherever it is coming from - probably forward of the bulkhead area leading to the v berth.

That is how I remember our 23 as to the holes for water to drain into those 3 seperate spaces . ,

 

[chrisandmolly]

Brad first off, I want to say I've looked at your web site a million times while working on my 23, a big thank you!

Mine doesn't have any drain holes either. I can tell you that it took me a while to figure out why I was getting water under the first floor board. I figured the water was coming in from the plexi glass hatch. When it rained, water would pool up on top. The water would then move forward under the wood strip that keeps the plexi glass from pulling out from under the hatch. Took the piece of teak off, siliconed under it and viola, no more water. Chris.

 

[MrUnix]

Limber not lumber - my bad!

Thanks guys.. and yes, I now realize that they are called 'limber' holes

Anyway, I think I'm going to break out my dremel with a flex shaft and add a few holes in strategic locations to let the water escape. I've found that even the storage lockers under the cabin cushions don't have any way for water to get out, which just baffles me.

Cheers,
Brad

 

[MrUnix]

Limber holes and water intrusion

I think you nailed the source of my water intrusion Chris! I got most of the water out of the boat and was letting it dry completely before drilling any holes.. and then we had some major thunderstorms roll through here all day yesterday and last night.

Today I checked and, sure enough, I had about a bucket worth of water in the cabin and bilge area. The water in the cabin was confined to the first two mini-bilge areas under the floorboards and the area directly under the companionway and sliding hatch. There was also a little bit of water on the bunks directly under the hatch.

I checked everywhere else for any signs of wetness and could not find any.. the areas around the windows and forward hatch was dry, all the carpet in the boat was dry, and the water seemed to be confined only to the area directly around the sliding hatch. So I'm pretty sure that is where it is coming from, and it makes sense as I currently only have a makeshift plywood slider that is not ideal but better than nothing. I'm still on the lookout for a piece of polycarbonate or acrylic to make the hatch with, but this sure motivates me to be a little more aggressive in my hunt Haven't been able to find anything locally, but I'm going to be over in St. Augustine next week, so I'll see what I can turn up. Thanks again guys!

Cheers,
Brad

PS: I also took the opportunity to measure the old lexan sheet to verify its thickness.. the PO said it had cracked so he cut it down to make the companionway door and built the POS plywood slider to replace it. I had thought, and had been told, that it was 1/2" thick. But upon measuring with my callipers, I got 0.362", or about 3/8". Would be great if someone could confirm this thickness on a stock slider.

 

[isaksp00]

I am not near my boat, but 3/8 to 1/2 seems about right. I think you will be more constrained by what you can find to buy. I would look at the slots the hatch slides in (if I recall, it fits into slots molded into the deck unit) and if 1/2 would easily fit,and you can get it, I'd use that - it might be more resilient to the odd (or not so odd) time people don't heed the warning to not stand on it.

 

[Kermit]

The top slider is 3/8". (I wish it were 1/2" so it wouldn't have cracked as easily when I stepped on it.) 1/2 would be too thick to slide under the hold-down pieces above it. The hatch boards are 1/2". I have my boat in the backyard so I can take any measurements anyone needs if you twist my arm. Oh, go ahead, twist my arm. Seriously, I think I can be persuaded to go aboard.

 

[Kermit]

Here are my limber holes.

 

[Brian M H23]

I drilled holes in the back wall of the rearmost keel bolt tray. that double floor under the step always seemed to accumulate water

 

[Iansails]

The top slider is 3/8". (I wish it were 1/2" so it wouldn't have cracked as easily when I stepped on it.) 1/2 would be too thick to slide under the hold-down pieces above it. The hatch boards are 1/2". I have my boat in the backyard so I can take any measurements anyone needs if you twist my arm. Oh, go ahead, twist my arm. Seriously, I think I can be persuaded to go aboard.

Hey Kermit, I'll take you up on that offer. I am trying to build some new companionway boards for my H23. probably going to use clear acrlic that I add some film tint to. I drew up a template a few years ago to do this but seem to have misplaced it. I'd have to go all the way up to my boat to get new measurements, so it sure would help if I could get the 3 measurements for this... top, bottom and side. Thanks

 

[Iansails]

I have limber holes in all three of my bilge areas in my H23. They all look like they were factory installed. I am currently wrestling with a leak from somewhere and so get water in all three areas quite frequently. It take s a long time to get the water out sometimes as it just keeps conming out through these holes once the bilge is empty. It has confused me for a while. I use a battery operated shop vac for this, as my slip has no power. I still don't feel as if I am getting all the water out.

 

[Kermit]

Aarrggggggg! I sold the boat in July!

 

[isaksp00]

I have the same problem and have also (recently) wondered what the path is. I don't know what is under the sealed area below the floor just aft of the bilge pans - the area under the removable step. I had a case where the cockpit drain got covered with debris in a storm, the cockpit filled with water deep enough to leak through the access port in the gas tank locker area, and into the bilge under the cockpit - there was some water down there, perhaps an inch or two deep. The keel pans were filled about to about 2/3 of their depth.

I wonder if water from there leaks into the cabin area under the step and then gradually through the limber holes into the keel area. I also suspect any water in the bow area will leak through in a similar way. If true, either area will be as deep as that above the keel, and the small holes would require some time for that water to get to the lowest point (I assume these keel pans).

Some once posted pics of a job where they cut out the floor under the step, but I can't find that post.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Let me chime folks, not chumming.

Remember if a boat is on the trailer, make sure it is level as water will come thru the companionway due to the drip rails in the back or forward of the campionway will fill up and spill over into the boat. Place a large towel next time it rains under the companionway and then when the storm has past by, see if the towel is wet.

Another potential source of penetration has been the drain hose from the anchor well and is accessable from the removal of the forward V berth plate. There are other possibilities there as well.

Everyone generally hoses down fittings one at a time to see if it is leaking there. I use to as a dealer would tape the opening ports and forward hatch shut. Then a large piece of plastic was taped around the entire companionway with a small slit which to insert a leaf blower. I had a second person with a bucket of soapy water and brush. Then then I would turn on the leaf blower and have that person brush every fitting and rub rails. Where air bubbles are seen is an area of potential leak source. Essentially you are pressurizing the cabin and air has to escape somewhere.

There are areas where water is trapped which takes time to seep out. In addition, I have seen some of the drainage holes filled or stopped up with debri preventing water from escaping. Simply unplug them

Hopes this helps on finding leakes in the 23 wing keel.

 

[carboman]

I have them. One drains from under the porta potti to the forward most floor board compartment, then one from there to the middle floorboard compartment, another from the middle to the third or last floorboard area and the last one drains anything under the cockpit into the three floorboard areas.

Hope its supposed to drain everything stern ward to keep it out of the floor boards.

Back in 2012 or around there we had tropical storm Debby in Tampa. My boat was on the trailer tilting slightly forward. Got hammered with rain and my chain plates were not sealed well. Got about 20 gallons of water inside the boat. Water kept coming into the forward most floor board area.

Could not find where it was coming from until I drilled about a 2" diameter hole in the floor under the porta potti. Wow! Sucked it out with one of those smaller sears craftsman shop vacs with a smaill platic tube duct taped to it so I cold get all the water.

 

[Iansails]

I have limber holes in all three of my bilge areas in my H23. They all look like they were factory installed. I am currently wrestling with a leak from somewhere and so get water in all three areas quite frequently. It take s a long time to get the water out sometimes as it just keeps conming out through these holes once the bilge is empty. It has confused me for a while. I use a battery operated shop vac for this, as my slip has no power. I still don't feel as if I am getting all the water out.

Same problem. Same remedy so far with the same results.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Send me a private message with name , phone number and location if in U S and will give you some imput from the Persinger a retired Hunter dealer

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

I had my cell phone in the above paragraph put in Persinger vs person. Sorry