H26 Bilge Water Problem

[Pat Adam]

Seems like bilge issues are common these days!I would like to hear specifically from those who have had any issues with ballast tank water leaking into bilge area. I believe this is my issue and I'm really at a loss as to how to fix it. This seems to occur only when under way (motor or sail). When stable at the dock, the bilge remains dry. Otherwise, a 2-3 hour day on the water produces 2-3 gallons or more sloshing around in the very strange bilge recess behind the ballast tank under aft bunk mattresses.Problem is that there seems to be no visible entry point for the water into bilge which leads me to believe that there may be a fracture or delamination of somekind near the sides of the tank under the galley or head sole. If so, how the heck can one possibly get at that!??Any insight on this would be greatly appreciated. I will place a call directly to Hunter Marine as well.Thanks! Pat

 

[Rick Webb]

First, Check the Archives

Second add dye to your ballast tank.Then look at the fill vent plug, the bolt that holds the centerboard to the boat, the clamps on the hoses for the bilge pump and for the sink, and the bolts that fasten the gudgeons.Water collects and flows all over the top of the ballast tank so it can be hard to determine the source or sources.One more thing to put on your list varnish or paint the bottoms of the covers for the compartments under the bunks and seats. If you have any moisture in there the plywood will absorb it an mildew or rot.Let us know what you find to correct the problem.

 

[alan]

What Rick said and...

...if the water is from the top of the ballast tank, then you need to figure out where that came from. Some sources would be anything that gets water under the sinks (when heeling that water would go to the top of the tank) or missing gasket at the control or loose vent cap. I keep paper towel wraped around both to check. This water can persist for months. In my boat, you can see any water there by pearing with a flashlight between the extension for the ballast tank contols and the inside of the companion way stairs. Water can ram up any of the hoses attached to the through hulls. MAKE SURE that the bilge hose loops up as high as possible or it will ram back through the bilge pump. As Rick said any loose hose clamps will let water entering from any direction to get into the bilge.Hope it's not the tank or something screwed into it. Water from the swing keel trunk could also be a cause. Remove the laminated wood over it by cutting the silicone caulking out. If that's the cause it will be obviously wet. Good luck. alan

 

[Pat Adam]

Update #1

Thanks for the replies. I should have been more specific on what I had already checked. The water is definitely NOT coming from the vent hole or wing nut under companionway step. The plug is new and all seals are good. I DO need to check the compression post area under the table. I meant to do that, but forgot. The next opportunity I have to check all this will be this weekend. I will put dye in the ballast tank and check the assembly at the base of compression post. I will get some of my sailing friends to steer the boat while underway as I keep an eye below for entering water. I'll keep everyone updated as to my findings. I am hoping that it is coming from an easy source. I really don't want to think about having to repair the ballast tank!!!Thanks again!!PAT

 

[Harvey Small]

Check the transom

It may not be the ballast tank. Check the hull/deck seam all the way aft in the transom. It may be dipping below the waterline and leaking under way, yet staying an inch or two above at the dock. Have someone else steer, check it on both port and starboard tack as well as while motoring.Been there, done that -- good luck!

 

[Toomas Oja]

Check additional equipment

In my 26 the previous owner had nailed the cooler in the starboard locker with 4 screws right through the top of the ballast tank and there I had a leak when tacking on starboard side only. Check if there are som extra screws in the lockers or in the head.I also found out that the hose from the sink was not tightned properly in the hull - bad leak as well. And it took quite a while before I found the two different sources - now she's dry all the time.toomas

 

[Donald3202]

Bilge Problem

Check the bolts, etc where the rudder is attached. Thats where we had a problem.

 

[Ross]

leaks

Have you checked the area aft of the aft berth bulkhead for water? Try putting a sponge in that area to see it the water is coming through there and migrating towards the bilge. If it is, then remove the center strip of the rubrail on the stern and check the integrity of the screws holding the rubrail on. I reset the loose screws with silicone and it fixed the leaks.

 

[Tom2909]

H260 experience...

On my 1999 H260, there is a hole that allows the wire for the stern light to pass from the aft bilge area up through the gas tank storage area under the helm seat. The caulk had seperated after a few years and an intermittent leak such as you have described took me more than a year to figure out. Water over the transome from wakes or following seas can wash in the storage area, and in my case, was finding its way below through that wire passage. 5 minutes cleaning old caulk and applying some new solved that problem.To find your leak, try laying towels (or even draw a chalk line on the inside hull) around the area of suspected water entry. This will help you establish where it is coming from. If possible use a garden hose to wet down potential entry points (that is how I finally traced mine down).I am not as familiar with the h26, but the same investigative techiques should work.Fair winds and dry bilge!Tom

 

[Marc]

Same Problem

I currently have the same problem. The post that carrys the dinette table has a cover that it sits in. I removed the cover to see that water is entering the vessel from the bottom up the thru hull post and into the pan (which is above the water ballast but below the cabin flooring). In my case I have to remove the post and reseal it with 3M 5200 caulk. So I advise you remove the cover the the post sits in. Shake the post and you will see water leak from the cup it rest in.

 

[Pat Adam]

Update #2

OK. I've now had time to investigate the leak and it has been found! As many suspected and as I was hoping, it is coming from the bottom of the compression post under the table. The old 5200 in there was all dried up and letting water squirt in while underway due to the pressure created (no problems while at the dock). So, since I cannot remove the compression post at this time, the best I could do was empty a tube of 5200 around the stainless plate which holds the centerboard bracket and around the compression post where it enters the fitting it sits in. As far as I can tell that did the job, but there was still a little bit of water in bilge which I suspect is residual from what was sitting on tank from previous leak. Another week to let everything dry out should confirm the fix. The ultimate repair, however, will be to drop the mast, unscrew and remove compression post then lift the plate holding centerboard so that new 5200 can be applied as a gasket in that area. My current fix should hold it at least for this season. Thanks to all for your suggestions and well wishes! Happy sailing!PAT

 

[Marc]

Good Luck

I wish you the best of luck. I spent all weekend trying to get the mast plate and base plate off. The 4 screws were seized/frozen due to weathering and being put in with 5200. I finally got screws out and was able to remove mast plate. On the other hand, the base plate has a large amout of 5200 on it and I was unable to get it off. So, I have decided to let a Hunter dealer do the work for me. Per Hunter this is supposed to be a simple fix. It has not been that simple for me yet!