how to replace water tank 1984 hunter 31

[jimmorris]

Today was a bummer. Just put in a new water heater, sealed the lines, and tried to get some pressure to the faucets. No flow, so bled out some air and primed the pump. Things were getting better. So time to fill the tank. As the tank was filling, all of a sudden the bilge is pumping water. I quiickly checked the fittings recently tightened and did not see any leaks. Some questions for the forum:
Is it possible the hose connecting tank and water pump has come disconnected?
Is there a tank valve that might be closed? Possibly badly leaking?
Or my worst fear, is the tank corroded through?
If it is the tank, can you replace it and where do you get the parts?

 

[Steve Dion]

Jim: Your water tank is built ito the hull liner of the boat. It is locate under the aft berth. There are three lines that go in/out of the tank. They are the vent, the fill tube that is locate behind the helm seat and the tank outlet that is located at the forward end of the tank.

The original tanks had a strainer that was attached prior to the pump to eliminate any setimate that was in your tank.

I assume that you may have a problem anywhere from the pump forward.

If you remove the cushions in that aft berth, there are inspections locations to check these connections.

 

[Bill Murray]

Check pressure/ temperature relief valve to be sure it is in closed postion.

I had same symptom last spring until I realized that the valve was in the open position to facilitate draining the previous fall :--)

 

[ontheroadgiv]

Jim,
I just had the same problem on my new boat. Check the hot water heater that you just installed....make sure the winter drain is closed....not sure if that leads to the bilge from the aft laz. I never had that water hooked up so I can't be sure. I will stop in next time I am up. Let me know.

 

[jimmorris]

If the winter drain is on the tank, then I think you might be on to something....will diet heavily this week so I can squeeze into the laz.
thanks

 

[jimmorris]

will do....thanks

 

[jimmorris]

Steve Dion,
Thanks for info. I am fairly sure the water was coming from the stern of the boat as I could see it running through under the companionway stairs. Two of us looked all over the new heater and it wasn't leaking from any fittings or the blow off valve. I even tilted the tank up to make sure it wasn't leaking from that. So I am guessing there is a valve on the front side of the tank that is open to atmosphere OR the infeed hose to the pump is rubbed through/split. I will pull the inspection ports and check it out.
Thanks.

 

[Keith13315]

Mine leaked also

Last summer I had a leak. It was the fitting for the water outlet. I took the top off the water tank and cleaned it very good and put a new fitting on problem gone.
Keith

 

[jimmorris]

Keith,
I will check it out. thx.

 

[jimmorris]

Steve,
turned out to be a cracked strainer...new one goes in this weekend.
thx for your help on this.

 

[Steve Dion]

Jim: Just a heads up on the water tank. On our '85 Hunter 31 the lid on the tank started to leak after several years. I tried removing the lid and filling the screw holds and then resealing it again to no avail.

I ended up glassing in the lid. I put two inspection ports in the lid (one on each side of the baffle). Generally those tanks a pretty much bullet proof, but the lid can be a problem.

You also need to know that water will leak behind the liner (shaft log) or from the ice box and will get trapped between the actual hull and the liner. This will sometimes become stagnate. I would sometimes pour a bucket of warm water with some bleach & detergent into these areas to clean out these areas to the best of our ability.

These are really nice boats we had our from 1987 - 2006 (bought it new, 1985 model). The boat has never had a blister and the only major issue was the compression post. Since you live where you probably pull the boat each year, I would suggest that your unstep the mast and seal the compression post area properly (be sure there is a drip loop where the wires go into the compression post).

 

[Ken Dierks 86 H31]

Hull flushing

Note on Steve's comment regarding water between the hull and the liner. After suffering all summer with a foul sewage/diesel smell everytime I opened up my 86 H31, drilled two holes in the forward part of the sump and flushed some fresh water through the hull from the opening behind the shaft seal and man what a stinky mess came out of there. Just kept running water through until the effluent was clear. Then hit is with a little bleach and man what a difference.

May still have a sewage leak somewhere in the head but for now she's smellls sweet a rose.

 

[wufibugs]

Steve, you wouldn't happen to have a step-by-step instruction for a pretty dense newby on sealing the compression post area. I have an 86 31' and imagine it prone to the same problem.

 

[Steve Dion]

I do not have any recommendations on sealing the compression post other than being sure that you have a drip loop on the wires for the lights and radio cable. You can also caulk around the tube that is in the deck (but that probably means removing the mast).

The new boats were more susceptible to this problem than the earlier models.

 

[Keith13315]

YEP A loop

The owner before me replaced the compression post and did nice job, but, it appears as if he just put a straight pipe in without a loop. Mine has water running down the wires when it rains ..........ARRRRR I have to pull the mast and do it right with a 180 os the water drips and runs OUT of the mast not down it.