Hunter 34 False Bildge - How can you tell if the modification was done?

[swshogren]

How can you tell if the false bildge had been exposed or not? I recently purchased a1984 Hunter 34 and want to do the modification, but came tell if it was done by a previous owner. I am cautious as the boat is in the water and don't want to go they the hull looking for something that may not be there. I am attaching photos of how the bildge currently looks. thanks in advance for any and all help.

 

[kloudie1]

Pictures did not post.

 

[kappykaplan]

Pictures did not post.

Yes they did.

 

[rgranger]

Yes they did.

 

[ggrizzard]

That looks like the real bilge to me.

 

[kloudie1]

I can see em now.

 

[swshogren]

I think this is the bildge "as built" and that it had not been opened up.... but I should would appreciate the feed back

 

[kloudie1]

Here is a picture of mine, partially opened.. You can see the little gap or undercut and how grungy the water in there was.. You may be able to remove the float switch and probe with a tiny dill bit into one of the screw holes to see if water comes out or you find a void.. The ply false floor on mine was about 3/16" thick.. The void space under the false bottom was less than 1/2" deep.. Yours does not look to have been opened up.

 

[swshogren]

kloudie1... thanks for the photos and suggestions. I'll do as you suggest and post photos of what I find and how my modifications turn out.

 

[Allan12210]

Not done (yet).

 

[swshogren]

Allan, how did you open your up? it looks like a hole saw maybe?

 

[swshogren]

and what are you using for a hose, it looks a lot better than what I have inherited.

 

[rgranger]

What an odd design. Seems obvious that FUNK would grow down there. I had a Coronado 23 once that had a drop in liner that left an air gap between the hull and the inside of the cabin. I filled it all in with closed-cell expanding foam. It was a PITA. I had to drill about 30 small holes and inject it ....but it did make the boat feel more sound. It made a nice deep thud when you tapped the walls and the insulation helped with condensation.

 

[swshogren]

I like your idea and how it improved your Coronado. I think it would make for a stiffer boat is done to a Hunter 34 from the 80's like mine. The problem is that some parts of the boat interior seem designed to drain into the void and the void is also used to run some electrical circuits. Perhaps these could be fixed over time and then the void filled work foam.

 

[Artey1]

Ah yes, one of the worst things I've ever smelled. Yours doesn't look done.

 

[swshogren]

Artey1 - thanks for sharing. How much room did you find between the false bildge and the true bildge?

 

[Allan12210]

Allan, how did you open your up? it looks like a hole saw maybe?

Yes, I had a 4 in hole saw handy. Then I used a 1-3/4 in hole saw for the aft portion. I retracted the pilot bit so it did not go into the hull bottom. Much later I bought a multitool and cut off the sharp edges.

 

[Allan12210]

and what are you using for a hose, it looks a lot better than what I have inherited.

The hose is a smooth bore from West Marine.

 

[swshogren]

thanks for all the help to everyone!

 

[Hunter 34_1984]

Once you remove the false bottom and clean it up, what did everyone do next? Did anyone put some new glass down without the plywood. or is safe to leave as is and put a small screw in to the new bottom to keep your float switch secure. I am in the middle of cutting mine out and I am not sure I will ever forget the smell I could almost taste it. I am not even sure what to compare it too.