Ice and snow in Dallas

[C Jones]

We had one boat sink a Hunter 28.5 due to a open seacock to the engine and a leak at one engine hose. Then we had a Beneteau nearly sink due to a open seacock and a leaking line on the A/C fill line.
I have been checking my h23 every other day, I posted pics of the snow on it in my profile.
We had a low of 18deg and all last week it never got above 26deg
Poured 2 buckets of lake water in my cockpit and it runs right out.
The lazzerette is dry and the hose is dry to the touch
Poured 1 bucket of water in the anchor locker, it ran right out and the storage under the v-birth is dry and the hose is dry to the touch
No water under the flooring in the v-birth
I do have 1/2" of water in the rear bilge (under the rear floor panel) when the weather cools off. Suck it out with a shop vac and its back in 2 hours.
Sitting in the slip or sailing, no matter it comes back.
It never gets over 1/2-3/4" deep can't figure that one out.
Never gets to the top of the keel bolts.
One day, one week or one month thats as high as it gets
Going to do a bottom job in the spring, maybe I'll find something then

 

[peptobysmol]

I had my '85 23 in the water all last year and it froze in more than I would have figured. It was the first year for me to own the boat and I didn't think the marina froze over - ever. So much for thinking. Never seemed to cause any problems though. I think you'll be fine. I've missed a couple of sailing days since I pulled it out this year, but I'm glad I did. I have a bottom job to do as well.

 

[C Jones]

Yea and the kicker is we sailed in the lakes Regatta on Sunday 1-30-11
It was 72deg, 5 knots and I was getting a head start on my tan

 

[Ed Schenck]

So C, that 3/4" is in a place that cannot drain to another place? There is no limber hole that will let it run to a bilge pump? But there is one keel bolt or more in that compartment? I wonder if it is a keel bolt leak and that 3/4" level is at your waterline.

 

[peptobysmol]

Thats right Ed. No place for a bilge pump. Period. Hard to believe I know. There are 3 shallow ~ 2 inch depressions with sole covers that make up the "bilge" area for the H 23 circa 1985 - ?. On another note, The keel bolts are well below 3/4" the water line. I'd guess about 6"

 

[C Jones]

6" to 8" below WL is a good guess. It never rises over 1/2-3/4".
This is my second winter with this boat and it did it last year as well
Come April or May it will be dry until next fall
6-8 oz. of water, total is my guess
Contraction, expansion on a keel bolt is my guess
Maybe I can find it come spring when I do the bottom job on the trailer
Supposed to 12deg here in the morning with another 4-6" of snow
I will be checking her again tomorrow evening

 

[isaksp00]

My '91 23 does have limber holes in these pans above the keel, however, I suspect the prev owner drilled them. I could (and may) put a bilge pump in the lazarette area, up against the lazarette to cabin bulkhead. However, I think the keel pans ("bilge") may be the lowest point, so inches or sub-inches of water may never drain to the lazarette in any case. I guess Hunter figured a boat lacking a prop shaft and glands should never get enough water inside to require any float-switched pumping.