Incoming!!! (water that is)

[Ed]

I'm sure someone out there with a 23.5 has expeienced this. 15-20 kts, 4 ft+ waves. Problem is with water in the normally dry bilge. I found one leak with the sink drain, no problem fixing that. What does one do with water backing down the through hull to the bilge pump? I don't think putting a 4" loop in the line will resolve the problem which is all the room there is under the sink. A seacock? Maybe a check valve? It's a real pain mopping up after an afternoon sail especially if you store anything under the seats in the cabin.

 

[J Costello]

I feel your pain

I too have a 23.5 with a strange leak. Although my water collects in the very stern of the hull behind the aft berth. I think the only thing I have not sealed is the battery cable connection for my electric start Tohatsu. I have never experienced your problem with water backing up through the bilge pump outlet. I would recommend a loop in a longer piece of hose before putting in a sea cock. The one time you forget to open it is the one time that you need it ot be open and the pump will burn up. Hang the loop of hose as high as you can under the sink and maybe that will do the trick.Good luck.

 

[Jim W23131]

Bilge backflow

I have a hunter 22 that I installed a new bilge pump in and I was getting water back flowing thru the bilge outlet at the stern of the boat when there were high waves or when I was keeled over and the outlet was submerged. I am not familiar with your 23.5 layout, but I realized on mine that the bilge drain line had to be held above the stern exit outlet. Once I raised the line (I actually tied mine up with some line) above the outlet and the bilge water no longer entered. I know they have special fittings for that purpose, but since my drain line had some extra length, it was easy to just raise it vertically. Not sure this applies to you.Jim

 

[Steve Dion]

The loop will work fine.

Ed:I think the loop will work fine. Our Hunter 31' has a loop on the bilge hose and we have never had a problem. We sail in some fairly heavy weather and have never taken on any appreciable water. Ours in on the starboard rail and finds itself under water quite often.