Hunter Europa transom bung

[martx007]

Hi folks
I recently bought a Hunter Europa that I now keep moored on a buoy and just wanted to confirm something (see pic)
Should that plug that is below the waterline be plugged when on the water or left open? If i open the back part of the rear seating area i can see a bit of water below and when i returned to the boat a couple of weeks later it was still the same hence not sure what is best?
many thanks
Martin

 

[sail sfbay]

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your new sailboat!!

Transom drain hole below the waterline should be plugged BEFORE the boat is launched into the water to prevent water entering the boat.

 

[martx007]

Thanks! Will get hold of a bung for when I go up at the weekend.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Definitely plugged before hitting he water.

If you do want to keep it bone dry back there, purchase a fuel squeeze bulb :

And fit it with a few feet of vinyl tubing to pump out any rain water overboard that may accumulate back there. I carry one and use it for cleaning out any internal water after an internal washdown.

 

[martx007]

Thanks Ralph will look into. Previous owner left a manual bilge pump to attach so will check how to proceed at the weekend, (see pic where pump will go)

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Somehow got the impression that water was around you feet but that's not the case.

Water in the bilge will not bother you. Ensure the pump suction is as close to the hull as practical and you'll never know a small amount of water is down there.

 

[rgranger]

Are we 100% sure that is not the cockpit drain hole? He did say he left it on the mooring open and it did not sink. So I'm thinking that may be the drain hole for the cockpit drain. If that is the case and he leaves it on the mooring it MUST remain open or a heavy rain will sink his boat.

Is there a hose running from that hole to a drain hole in the cockpit?

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Are we 100% sure that is not the cockpit drain hole?

YIPES !

Good point.

I now keep moored on a buoy and just wanted to confirm something (see pic)
Should that plug that is below the waterline be plugged when on the water or left open?

Will get hold of a bung for when I go up at the weekend.

He DID NOT have a bung in it while the boat was moored. He intends to "get hold of a bung."

That bung hole is well below the water line:

If that had been a bilge drain and left open, the boat would have sunk within the hour when first entering the water.

That didn't sink the boat. But if he plugs the hole, that WILL eventually sink the boat.

@martx007 would be well advised to investigate this very thoroughly.

And a gold sticker for @rgranger for his tremendous grasp of the obvious !

 

[martx007]

Thanks guys, its definitely bilge pump hole as there was one there before purchase but broke and i have the new one on the boat to connect (see pic of advert for sale) so outside hole must be to plug? )

 

[Leeward Rail]

, its definitely bilge pump hole

the big hole in the rear of the cockpit is definitely a mounting hole for a manual bilge pump.
That Bilge pump would output to a hose outlet above waterline.

Otoh..

That hole in the transom/stern looks to be below water line.

Unless the transom hole was installed DIY by someone without a clue.
I also assume it is a cockpit drain.

How does the cockpit drain? It must have drain holes that go somewhere.

FWIW have you contacted or joined the UK Hunter group?

Hunter Boats

www.hunterassociation.org.uk

 

[Leeward Rail]

The Hunter 19/Europa looks to be a great boat.. (Not to be confused with the USA brand Hunter)

Smallest boat to finish the OSTAR

Amazon.com

 

[martx007]

thanks for the links! i think there is actually an outflow for the bilge. On 1st pic of this thread top right of transom . Will concentrate on this at weekend, nuts and bolts should have arrived by then to install pump
thanks again

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

thanks for the links! i think there is actually an outflow for the bilge. On 1st pic of this thread top right of transom .

Looks pretty high for a bilge pump discharge. Usually they are near the water line for pump capacity. No way of telling what a previous owner may have done.

If it were my boat, my #1 priority would be to determine the function of that external, below the water line hole shown in the blue circle. I would put this above anything mechanical, electrical, or cosmetic work on the boat. At this point, we have no clue as to what its function is. As your boat is on a mooring, no one will be passing by and notice any problems.

 

[martx007]

Just in case anyone is interested Been to the boat this weekend
The hole top right of transom is indeed connected to the bilge pump hose. The hole at/below waterline is in the form of a tube the connects to hole at the bottom of the cockpit(see pics). I didn't take the correct length bolts for bilge pump so will be back next week! Any excuse to make a coffee and toast on the lake
Inside underneath the transom seems an enclosed space so hopefully wouldn't sink the boat anyway.
I may look into so form of cctv with built in sim so i can keep a check occasionally...
And got the brand new Honda 2.3 to start after failing last visit
Anyway thanks for the input folks

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

The hole at/below waterline is in the form of a tube the connects to hole at the bottom of the cockpit(see pics).

Which picture does this statement refer to ? If so, this is the hole you do NOT want to plug.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Hunter did not build that boat either at their US or British plant from 1985 to 2012

 

[martx007]

Sorry Ralph i should have said there is no need to block the hole at the waterline as it must empty out via the cockpit hole.
Dave, Previous owner said it was from 1975

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Glad that's cleared up.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

US Hunter Marine Corp built two 19’s in the early 80’s and then the water ballast in the 90’s. The first 19 was offered as a complete boat or as a kit. It had a swing keel if I recall. Hunter Marine then opened a plant in England but had to call that company Hunter Legend for the European market

There was already a sailboat company In England called Hunter Sailboats which built the Hunter Europa 19 with a fixed keel between 1972 thru 1982.

You need to focus on the English Company for information on your boat as the US based Hunter Corporation did not build your sailboat.

When I advise ,it is based on information and experience and that includes confirming info with past sailboat designers and manufacturers for confirmation. In fact in one case there is a difference of opinion on backing plates as i conferred with one of the sailboat designers of that boat. I hav a saying, it is the owner’s boat and he must make the decision how to proceed. Yes sometimes I tell stories but took the time to research and talk with the owner.

I do not know your boat but took the time to who built that boat and direct you to the correct builder