Hi everybody, I just got my H23, and I've been doing some cleanup and familiarizing myself with the boat. The boat was stored for two years before I bought it. I've been sponging water out of the area where the keel bolts are located, only to have it refill shortly after. I can see that the water is coming out of some drain holes, by the keel bolts, but from where? Does anyone know where the water is coming from? I've looked everywhere that I can access in the interior of the boat, and all the storage compartments are dry. When I first brought the boat home, there was dark water in the storage area under the V-berth, and in the bilge by the keel bolts. The water that's coming out now is the same color. I would like to get the water out before the freeze here in Michigan. Does anyone have any ideas on where it's coming from?
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Ernie
Same Problem
Heath I've got the same problem with my H23. It does dry out, but the first little rain puts more water there. Good luck on finding where it gets in! It's really more of a nusiance than a problem for me since I live so far south. Ernie s/v Seas the Moment
Heath I've got the same problem with my H23. It does dry out, but the first little rain puts more water there. Good luck on finding where it gets in! It's really more of a nusiance than a problem for me since I live so far south. Ernie s/v Seas the Moment
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Ward Niffenegger
Unfortunately I do know
Heath, I had exactly the same problem when I had a side window crack during winter storage and water got into the storage compartments under the seats. The ONLY way I could figure out how to get it all out was to drill a hole. I removed the boards on the floor then drilled a 1/4 inch hole in the rear compartment. I drilled this hole near the bottom and parallel with the floor. The bit was aimed toward the stern of the boat. This allowed the water to run into the floor board compartment so I could sponge it up. I plugged the hole when I was done with a 1/4 bolt. Sorry I couldn't find any other way to access this area of the boat. Ward
Heath, I had exactly the same problem when I had a side window crack during winter storage and water got into the storage compartments under the seats. The ONLY way I could figure out how to get it all out was to drill a hole. I removed the boards on the floor then drilled a 1/4 inch hole in the rear compartment. I drilled this hole near the bottom and parallel with the floor. The bit was aimed toward the stern of the boat. This allowed the water to run into the floor board compartment so I could sponge it up. I plugged the hole when I was done with a 1/4 bolt. Sorry I couldn't find any other way to access this area of the boat. Ward
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Tony Thomas
Here's your answer
Heath, The best way to get the water out is to use a wet vac. Once you get out the water from around the keel bolts you need to use some duct tape and some clear vinyl tubing. Get about 4 feet of the tubing and stick about 1 ft of it into the wet vac hose. Seal the leftover space between the tube and the wet vac attachment with duct tape. So now, you have a way to suck the water out of the small holes bt the keel bolts. ( What Hunter had in mind with these holes I'll probably never know) Ok, there are only two ways to that I know to help you find the leak. One way is to take a tarp and affix it to the boat so that it covers just the windows and the hatch. Then either wait for a good rain or use a water hose to simulate a nice rain fall. If it is still dry then you may have a leak coming from the shroud attachments or the seams where the deck meets the sides of the boat. If you have any questions email me at liv2sail@angelfire.com REMEMBER! water expands asit freezes and this may have cause more damage if it set up like this last winter
Heath, The best way to get the water out is to use a wet vac. Once you get out the water from around the keel bolts you need to use some duct tape and some clear vinyl tubing. Get about 4 feet of the tubing and stick about 1 ft of it into the wet vac hose. Seal the leftover space between the tube and the wet vac attachment with duct tape. So now, you have a way to suck the water out of the small holes bt the keel bolts. ( What Hunter had in mind with these holes I'll probably never know) Ok, there are only two ways to that I know to help you find the leak. One way is to take a tarp and affix it to the boat so that it covers just the windows and the hatch. Then either wait for a good rain or use a water hose to simulate a nice rain fall. If it is still dry then you may have a leak coming from the shroud attachments or the seams where the deck meets the sides of the boat. If you have any questions email me at liv2sail@angelfire.com REMEMBER! water expands asit freezes and this may have cause more damage if it set up like this last winter
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Kevin
Heath: Lift the main cabin forward teak and holly sole. You will notice two small holes drilled horizontally into the bulkhead. Under the V-berth there ought to be a triangular teak and holly sole (it may or may not be attached to the hull liner by screws). Remove it and you will find another hole or two. These are called "limber holes." The purpose of these holes are to drain water out of the void between the hull liner and the hull when the boat heels under sail. The water gets into the void as a result of a less than perfect seal between the metal keel and the fiberglass hull. That Hunter put these holes in the hull liner implies that a less than perfect seal between hull and keel is possible. It is possible to correct this problem by separating the keel from the hull and rebedding it. This is a major task. But first look for water stains indicative of a leak, say at the chain plates, hatches, or ports. Better yet, sit in the boat during a rain storm if possible. If no leaks, re-torque the keel bolts to specification (Hunter Marine will email you the figures for no charge---give your complete hull number). In the meantime, go with the suggestion to wet-vac the water out after checking for leaks. Water expands as it freezes and this is what causes damage (sufficient force to burst copper pipes!) but if there is enough of an air gap for expansion then there ought not be a problem even if some water remains. Cheers! Kevin.
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Donald Njaa
Anchor leak
I found several places that leaked. All were from rain water. We keep our boat in the ocean in Belfast, Maine, and none of the water in the boat was salty. The boat is at the slip for at least four months. The windows leaked. But finaly it was the drain in the anchor locker in the bow that leaked and once it was fixed with plumers epoxy the boat is dry.
I found several places that leaked. All were from rain water. We keep our boat in the ocean in Belfast, Maine, and none of the water in the boat was salty. The boat is at the slip for at least four months. The windows leaked. But finaly it was the drain in the anchor locker in the bow that leaked and once it was fixed with plumers epoxy the boat is dry.
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David Levite
Lucky You
Heath, Consider yourself somewhat lucky. Since I bought my Hunter 23 last December, I've had water in the bildge by the keel bolts and in each storage bin inside the cabin and in the port lazarette. My boat has been out of the water for a few weeks and I still can't get it to dry out by the keel bolts - even after wet vaccing It hasn't rained since I've had it out either. Gremlins? I hope someone here can help you... and me. -David Hunter 23 Saltaire
Heath, Consider yourself somewhat lucky. Since I bought my Hunter 23 last December, I've had water in the bildge by the keel bolts and in each storage bin inside the cabin and in the port lazarette. My boat has been out of the water for a few weeks and I still can't get it to dry out by the keel bolts - even after wet vaccing It hasn't rained since I've had it out either. Gremlins? I hope someone here can help you... and me. -David Hunter 23 Saltaire
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Greg S2
A weird but useful thing...
Had a 23. used to fill do to rain leaks over the "off" season. The problem is that the 23 doesn't really have a bilge. It has a low spot around the keel bolts. The water is probably under the cockpit. Sence the water seeps into the bilge slowly as you sop it up with a sponge, I found that the shop vac clears the bilge faster than the old sponge any day. I just let the vac run in the cabin with the hose in the bilge and went a got a cup of coffee. When I got back, the water was a safely in the vac and I was ready to go. Greg (My bilge is 30" deep now!)
Had a 23. used to fill do to rain leaks over the "off" season. The problem is that the 23 doesn't really have a bilge. It has a low spot around the keel bolts. The water is probably under the cockpit. Sence the water seeps into the bilge slowly as you sop it up with a sponge, I found that the shop vac clears the bilge faster than the old sponge any day. I just let the vac run in the cabin with the hose in the bilge and went a got a cup of coffee. When I got back, the water was a safely in the vac and I was ready to go. Greg (My bilge is 30" deep now!)
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Heath
water in the bilge, a sequel...
David, try Tony's advice on taping a length of skinny clear tubing to the end of the wet vac. This worked for me. Thanks Tony. With that done, now I wonder if it might be a good idea to install a small deckplate in the flat area of the cabin sole as a way to get a hand pump in there? There's got to be a better way to pump this area of the bilge when out cruising.
David, try Tony's advice on taping a length of skinny clear tubing to the end of the wet vac. This worked for me. Thanks Tony. With that done, now I wonder if it might be a good idea to install a small deckplate in the flat area of the cabin sole as a way to get a hand pump in there? There's got to be a better way to pump this area of the bilge when out cruising.
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