HELP - leaky teaky???

[Casey A Hargrave]

I Recently bought & restored an 85 Hunter 23. Love her dearly with one exception - water is coming into the cabin somewhere, somehow. I have been in the cabin during a heavy storm and inspected the ports & companion way which didn't leak a drop. Where is the water coming from? I sail her every weekend. When i get to the marina and load her up she appears to be dry; however, once she is sailed and heeled a bit the water appears. I am having a hard time finding the source. Only one trough hull on the boat which stays dry. Could it possibly be the keel, where it attaches to the hull? Durung restoation of this boat i pressure sprayed everything, and i seem to remeber blowing out a bead of silicon between the keel & the hull. Could this be my problem? I pump nearly 20 gallons of water out every sunday, the weird thing is - the water only shows it self after some heeling. Any thoughts would be gretly appreciated.

 

[Mike Misko]

H23 Leaks

Hi Casey - lots of H23 leak stuff in the archives, but most of it references topside leaks that find their way down the sides of the cabin into the bilge. Another common source is the thru-hull hose in the anchor locker. However, you seam to have ruled these out. I'll bet you are on the right track looking at the keel. 20 gallons is huge. Is your boat one of the centerboard style H23's? Could that be a leak point? Keep us posted on what you find. I now don't feel so bad about the 2 or 3 ounces I get through the rub rail after a severe storm.

 

[Karl]

leaks

Check the lifeline stantions and any other deck fittings and the hull to deck joint. Good luck

 

[Matt Piercy]

Leaky H23

Casey, I have an '86 hunter 23. My biggest water leak was from the rudder pintel mount on the transom. This caused water to get into the locker under the cockpit. The water would then seep into the cabin through some "weeping" holes in the bilge by the keel bolts along the center line of the cabin below the floor boards. The only time water would enter the locker was when there was significant force on the rudder, i.e. under way. At the dock it did not leak. Since you did not mention any water in the locker I would assume you have a different problem. You might try tasting the water. If it is salty it ain't rain water. When heeled over are you burying the rub rail into the water. You could get water into the boat if the hull deck joint has lost some of its sealent which is pretty common. Another point to consider is the sink drain on the port side of the hull. Its through hull is usually a couple of feet above the water line but when heeling over would definetly let water in if the seal has been compromised. Try determining on which tack the leak appears. Good luck.

 

[Casey A Hargrave]

Thanks for all the Advice

I appreciate everyone's thougts & advice on my very frustrating water problems. I am pulling her out of the water this evening and will let her dry up over night. Tomorrow moring I am going to inspect all areas of the hull, keel to hull joint, Rudder pintel mount, thru-hull @ the knot meter, thru hule @ the sink drain and the cockpit drain. Following that i plan to seal all the stantions, the deck / hull joint @ the rub rail, etc. Hopefully i will remedy this problem and get her back undersail - i will keep this post up-to-date with my progress.