Greetings all... I'm the quasi-owner (brother in law hasn't used it in two years and I'm sort of holding it in my driveway) of a 99 170. There's not much use on it (maybe about twelve hours all told), and I'm more involved with my other boats. I had occasion to take the Hunter out this weekend. It's been covered on my driveway, with the bow elevated so water drains. The last time I used it was in July, and then it was dry when drained (no water dribbling from the plug when on the hill of the ramp). When I hooked it up Sunday, about a gallon came out of the plug. During the day, the remaining water started to thaw, and sloshed around until I got done. Another five gallons drained that evening. The boat had been fully covered, the mast unstepped, and basically the boat put away for the winter. I figure the water either was in the hull before I stored it or it leaked in (former more likely than later, since I leave the drain plugs OUT in the winter). There's at least three other Hunter 170s that sail in the same club as I, and they all have reported having water in the inner hull. Aside from the standard fittings, I have zero penetrations, and zero capsizes to account for any above the waterline leaks (no cupholders, brackets, etc.,) or anything that would account for the water. Any one have any ideas? The big click for me was when I remembered (while draining the water into a bucket looking for anything like flotation) the other sailors remarking on the huge quantities of water they drained out of their boats. It sounds like there's a basic design flaw in the 170. I've read a couple of the posts about cinching and winching - I don't do that (and my b-i-l did even less) - I float the boat onto the trailer, hand-tie it, and then hump it onto the trailer before anchoring it with a strap. It's secured to the trailer with 3/4 inch line - hand tight only.... So, what's up with the water? Five gallons is too much not to be detected earlier. This sounds like a leak situation, but from where? I did a quick bubble check (vacuum cleaner blowing into the drain hole, dish soap around the centerboard case, stern, and anywhere else I could reach...nothing)... I like that boat - it's much easier to rig than my Bucc 18, and I'm trying to get the other skippers to be a little more competitive and a little less disappointed in their finishes (racing in a Portsmouth fleet with Thistles, Y-flyers and Lasers), but unless I figure out where that water is coming from...the boat SHOULD be water-tight for a season - I don't get this much water from my ancient Enterprise or the Bucc or MacGregor...