H23 Wing Keel -water in cabin

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Cathy Jacobs

We have a 1987 Hunter 23, wing keel which we purchased in October. There was water in the cabin which we mopped up. However, when we moved the boat for storage, more water appeard in the floor wells - it was not raining. We mopped it up. We stored it inside for the winter - a little water this spring when we got it out. We mopped it up. That is when we noticed that it was seeping in around the bolts which are holding the keel. The well is in the center of the cabin. Where could this be coming from? The hull of the boat appears to be in very good shape - no cracks, holes, or repaired spots.
 
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Jim Maroldo

Cabin water mystery

Cathy, I don't believe the water is coming from the keel at all (I assume your '23' is sitting on the trailer?). Water can come from a number of different places and settle down below the deck plates just because that's the lowest point inside the boat (seems too small to call it a "bilge"!). It seems to take quite a long time for the water to work it's way down there; I sucked mine dry 4 or 5 times before it stopped showing up. I still don't know where those little holes down there lead to, but I suspect the water was coming from THEM, and not from the keel. I do know that once we re-bedded the chain plates, rudder pintle & lifeline stanchions, replaced the anchor locker drain hose, and caulked under the hatch cover stiffener, the cabin stays good & dry, no matter what the weather! Look at the chain plate mounts inside the cabin; if there is water leaking there (common), the wood may either be stained or have the veneer lifting off. You can easily test the hatch cover by sitting inside the cabin on a rainy day. You can simulate rain by having someone shoot the garden hose up in the air so the water falls on the closed hatch. If you shoot the water directly at the hatch, I can guarantee you'll get wet inside - don't ask how I know! If you want to chat about this more, feel free to e-mail me at ocrc@litenet.net. Otherwise, let us know what you found. We may all learn something new! Jim Maroldo S/V 'Lil Wass Ett
 
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Chip Tobey

leaks

Another source of leakage you may check is the drain for the anchor well. If it's leaking, water will collect under the V-berth and can then migrate toward the low point in the cabin (the keel bolts). Mutiple points of entry like chain plates, hatches and port lights are normal and can be easily remedied. If it is the keel bolts (which I too doubt) it's a bigger problem! Good luck. The h23 is a great boat.
 
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Brent Borchers

my experience

I had an accumulation in my hunter 23's bilge that I couldn't locate for a while. Eventually I realized that it was slowly leaking in from the thru hull where the knotmeter paddle wheel was located - just sealed it up with some West 5200 and not a drop from now on. Brent
 
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Heath Green

More Thoughts...

Cathy, I asked the same question a while ago. Look under "H23 water in the bilge" for more info. I found that my cockpit drain was leaking, and will check all the other places listed in the recent posts before launching. The little holes near the keel bolts lead to the gap between the outer hull, and whatever the inner part of the boat is called. To get the rest of the water out, I used a shop vac. with a one foot long piece of skinny tubing taped into the end of the vac. hose. It worked great. Happy sailing.
 
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Jim Maroldo

Sorry to change the subject, but...

Brent, would you drop me an email at ocrc@litenet.net? I'd like to discuss your knotmeter installation with you. Thanks! Jim s/v 'Lil Wass Ett
 
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jeff leo

water

Ill bet the water is coming through a leaking hose in the anchor locker. replace the hose, i use heater hose 3/4" and the water will be gone. I went through the same thing on my 86.
 
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