Keel Leak??

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H30inDC

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May 9, 2009
8
2 Sloop Sister Bay
We own a 1980 Hunter 30 which has persistent water in the bilge. After haul out last fall we noticed a crack in the forward end of the sealing compound joint between the hull and the keel. Could this crack be the source of water coming into the bilge? If so, what is the procedure to seal the crack? It is hairline now, with the boat on the hard. No sure how big the crack is when the keel is not supported from underneath.

Has anyone had this problem? How did you do the repair? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
 
tomgrigsby

tomgrigsby

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May 21, 2009
360
Hunter 30 Smithfield, VA
Do you have an increase of water in the bilge even if it hasn't been raining? Other sources include the fresh water tank and a leak from the base of the mast. Another source is a leak around the companionway hatch. That one tends to put water in the engine drip pan first. Very unlikely that you have water coming in from the keel joint. If you check the nuts on your keel bolts and find them tight, perhaps that would indicate that the source of the leak is elsewhere.
 
Mark Ferrick

Mark Ferrick

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Mar 18, 2010
91
O'Day 222 Smith Mountain Lake, VA
Do you have a keel / centerboard? My 1975 30 has one and that was the main source of water in the bilge. When water was leaking in the cable tube.
 
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H30inDC

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May 9, 2009
8
2 Sloop Sister Bay
tomgrigsby said:
Do you have an increase of water in the bilge even if it hasn't been raining? Other sources include the fresh water tank and a leak from the base of the mast. Another source is a leak around the companionway hatch. That one tends to put water in the engine drip pan first. Very unlikely that you have water coming in from the keel joint. If you check the nuts on your keel bolts and find them tight, perhaps that would indicate that the source of the leak is elsewhere.
Click to expand
Yeah, that's just the problem with water leaks - its so hard it identify the source of the leaks because water can travel and appear so far away from the leak source. My husband says he could feel water coming in ithe forward area of the bilge up under that ridge in the fiberglass in the bilge about 3-4" under the cabin floor while sailing and not raining. He seems to think it comes faster when heeled over hard. That's why he suspects the visible cracks in the joint compound in the keel/hull joint. We're not sure how deep the cracks without support under the keel. Its a very thin crack on the hard. No doubt we have some above the water line leaks as well but it wasn't nor had it been raining in a while when he checked it. The place he showed me was on the opposite side of the cabin from the water tank. The nuts were very tight when checked and he was able to back them off without the bolts moving so we feel the keel bolts are securing the keel.

Our thought is to loosen the forward keel bolts and then raise the bow some to let the front of the keel drop alittle bit, then remove the compound where its cracked and refill it with 3M 5200. What do you think of that?? Some have recommended removing the compound all the way around the keel and replace it all, but we don't want to make a bigger project than we have to. We've been sailing her this way for several years and as long as the battery and bilge pump perform it really hasnt been a problem. Would like to get it remedied though to protect the keel bolts. By the way - we sail in fresh water so I think that is less corrosive than salt water.
 
tomgrigsby

tomgrigsby

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May 21, 2009
360
Hunter 30 Smithfield, VA
I don't have any experience with repairs to the keel to hull joint - perhaps someone with experience will weigh in. Regarding corrosion, It would take a very long time for fresh water to cause a keel bolt failure - decades if ever. You'll be fine there. Even our boats that have salt water in the bilges don't have much of a problem with the keel bolts or nuts corroding excessively.
 
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Nelsonhow

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Jan 4, 2007
406
Hunter 30 Centerport
If your keel bolts look OK and are torqued up and assuming you haven't run aground or hit something pretty hard I doubt you're leaking from the keel bolts.

The companion way and opening ports are major leak sources as are to rail leaks . Check for rail leaks behind the food prep area and behind the head/sink area as well as the deck drains and cockpit drains. It's possible that one of the hoses that drain the water to the thru hulls has slit. I had one of the side deck drain hoses split after it was clogged and the water in the hose iced up. I've also fixed toe rail leaks by re bedding a few of the bolts with butyl tape and re-tightening them. I did break a few of the bolts and had to replace them so you may want to have a few extra 1/4" bolts ready.

Many of us have the start of the Hunter Smile.... In fact it's pretty common on all boats with external keels. I think the problem is usually that the faring compound that Hunter used to smooth the seam between the keel and the hull is pretty brittle and cracks off as it ages.

It's almost a full time job keeping the water on the outside........
 
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