Hunter 26 floor flex

[Noah]

I'd like to ask Crazy Dave or any 26 and 260 owners about this.

I looked at a Hunter 26 for sale. It would be a nice upgrade to our H 23.5. The boat was on its trailer, not in the water, when I inspected it. The floor was soft in the head and adjacent area. My worry is that water could have frozen in the ballast tank and compromised structures supporting the floor. It deflects up to 1/2 inch with my weight on it (230lbs) in this area.

My questions are: how much flex is normal? Does it get better with water in the ballast and show up to a greater degree when empty? How can I inspect the ballast for damage due to a freezing, to confirm or dismiss my initial suspicion?
Thanks, Noah

 

[rgranger]

I'm also 230 and I don't recall any floor flex in mine....

 

[caverun]

I don't have a 26, but remembered this previous discussion of the same issue in a H260:
http://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/soft-floor-in-head-of-h260.180008/

 

[Noah]

Thanks, I saw mixed opinions on the topic on the old thread -- nothing definitive.
However, I'm thinking the ballast tank must have frozen in this case because the forum would be lit up with questions like mine if the flex was 'normal' to the design.

 

[jeffclown]

My H26 doesn't have that much flex. That doesn't sound right, but I'm not sure if freezing the ballast tank would cause that. It could be moderately thinner construction - maybe not a show stopper. Maybe Crazy Dave has a comment on construction.

 

[twalker H260]

Our 260 has noticeable deflection to top of the ballast tank when on the trailer with tank empty. When in the water and tank is full this has always disappeared. Don't remember any particular issues in the head area as it has a raised floor that is above the tank top.

Have a look forward through the access hatches under the aft berth to see if there are any issues - a scope or mirror makes this easier to do.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

There is a plate over the bottom of the hull which basically serves as the water ballast tank. If the boat is on the trailer and still above freezing you may want to do the owner a favor and open up the ballast tank. Last step down with a flip up step. Open the drain bail plug first and then open the wing nut but if that nut does not go down, then press it down with your shoe. Then run for the hills as the odor will run you out.

The floor pan is above the water tank, thus the floating but 1/2 inch of flexion is about right but would be a little more than usual but I have heard others having that much in the center. Remember Hunter was trying to keep the weight of the boat at a minimum for trailering.

Before purchasing I would put the boat into the water and let the tank fill to make sure it is not leaking. But get permission to drop the ballast water out if on the trailer. Keep us posted.