I'm trying to find the source of a leak in my H34. The leak is below the waterline because it is constant and is somewhere behind the cabin pan (I've looked everywhere else). It is bay water. It is not coming from the stuffing box. Is it possible that a thru-hull is loose and leaking between the cabin pan and the hull? Probably a quart or two a day. I suspect the raw water intake valve for my head. The water is coming into the bilge from the forward hole in the bilge. Any other source ideas? This is a boat that I purchased this year. The original gate-valves will be replaced this winter. I'll probably inspect/rebed/replace the thru-hull fittings as necessary. Tom s/v Unity
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Peter Roach
Check your debth sounder or speed guage
It is usually up front on the starboard side. It may be a easy problem to fix (bad o ring on the knot meter) or you might need to rebed them.
It is usually up front on the starboard side. It may be a easy problem to fix (bad o ring on the knot meter) or you might need to rebed them.
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Tom
Checked both the depth and knot meter
Yes, I checked both the depth and knot meter thru hulls today. That was not the problem. Thank you Tom s/v Unity
Yes, I checked both the depth and knot meter thru hulls today. That was not the problem. Thank you Tom s/v Unity
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Bob Peters
see my 336 hull hole note posted 9/2
Hi Tom, Long shot but look down postings list for my note on what looks like a similar problem. By the way, what is a cabin pan? thanks, Bob
Hi Tom, Long shot but look down postings list for my note on what looks like a similar problem. By the way, what is a cabin pan? thanks, Bob
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Tom
Cabin Pan is
The cabin pan is the white floor used throughout the cabin were there is no hardwood flooring. This is a seperate plastic piece that lines the interior from the mat fiberglass underneath. I know there is sapce between the two...just trying to figure our if a thru-hull could leak in between where I could not see it. Thank you, Tom
The cabin pan is the white floor used throughout the cabin were there is no hardwood flooring. This is a seperate plastic piece that lines the interior from the mat fiberglass underneath. I know there is sapce between the two...just trying to figure our if a thru-hull could leak in between where I could not see it. Thank you, Tom
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Peter Roach
Are you sure
Are you really sure it is water from the ocean / bay??? You should not have any through hulls that attach to the pan. They should all be attached directly to the hull with a backing board to help even the load on the hull. There are several H34s that have the sink through hull up under the v - bearth. You might want to really check those hoses. Some more esoteric places you can look in case you are not sure. The hose from the anchor locker to the drain hole. You have to remove the inspection plate in the v-bearth. The electrical connection for your mast. There are a LOT of posts about the compression post on the H34s. It can be a major source of problems. Leaking ports - they actually leak between the port and the inner liner. You will notice that the material is wet under the port. If the one in the head leaks then you will find water running down behind the cabinets. You can run a hose on the offending port and then blot the inside with a paper towel to see if this is your problem. Keel bolts - look through the archives. I have never touched mine and I hope I never have to. Let us know what you find.
Are you really sure it is water from the ocean / bay??? You should not have any through hulls that attach to the pan. They should all be attached directly to the hull with a backing board to help even the load on the hull. There are several H34s that have the sink through hull up under the v - bearth. You might want to really check those hoses. Some more esoteric places you can look in case you are not sure. The hose from the anchor locker to the drain hole. You have to remove the inspection plate in the v-bearth. The electrical connection for your mast. There are a LOT of posts about the compression post on the H34s. It can be a major source of problems. Leaking ports - they actually leak between the port and the inner liner. You will notice that the material is wet under the port. If the one in the head leaks then you will find water running down behind the cabinets. You can run a hose on the offending port and then blot the inside with a paper towel to see if this is your problem. Keel bolts - look through the archives. I have never touched mine and I hope I never have to. Let us know what you find.
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Tom
Still searching..
The leak is present even with no rain. I checked the anchor locker drain hose. I checked the keel bolts. The water is coming from the forward holes in the bilge. I checked my holding tank, fresh water system, hot water heater etc. I figure it has to be forward somewhere and the only sources I'm left with are the depth/knot, sink drain, head inlet/output. Thank you, Tom
The leak is present even with no rain. I checked the anchor locker drain hose. I checked the keel bolts. The water is coming from the forward holes in the bilge. I checked my holding tank, fresh water system, hot water heater etc. I figure it has to be forward somewhere and the only sources I'm left with are the depth/knot, sink drain, head inlet/output. Thank you, Tom
New backing plates.
Tom: When you replace your thru hulls they should be using new backing plates. I would be sure that you treat the wood with epoxy so you do not have this problem in the future too. If you can sustain the next few weeks before you pull the boat, you should be okay. Be sure to replace the ones on your instrument transducers too. This is just good preventative maintenance.
Tom: When you replace your thru hulls they should be using new backing plates. I would be sure that you treat the wood with epoxy so you do not have this problem in the future too. If you can sustain the next few weeks before you pull the boat, you should be okay. Be sure to replace the ones on your instrument transducers too. This is just good preventative maintenance.
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Peter Roach
I hate to be presistent
Tom, A couple of qualifying questions: Is it only leaking when you stay on the boat? How much water are we talking about? Where do you first see the water? Does your water pump run when you first turn on your power or does it run occasionally when you are not using the water. If I was a betting man I would say that you have a leaking hot water heater, water tank,, holding tank or port. The drain hole on the front of the bildge does not drain the front of the boat only. My side bildges also drain into the bildge through the hole cut in the forward part of the blidge. If you want to see if it is coming in thorough there you can take the holder for the table leg off and shove a couple of paper towels down through the hole in the deck. This is usually the route water from the hot water heater takes when it is going to your bildge (not the only thing that can be putting water there so be carful)
Tom, A couple of qualifying questions: Is it only leaking when you stay on the boat? How much water are we talking about? Where do you first see the water? Does your water pump run when you first turn on your power or does it run occasionally when you are not using the water. If I was a betting man I would say that you have a leaking hot water heater, water tank,, holding tank or port. The drain hole on the front of the bildge does not drain the front of the boat only. My side bildges also drain into the bildge through the hole cut in the forward part of the blidge. If you want to see if it is coming in thorough there you can take the holder for the table leg off and shove a couple of paper towels down through the hole in the deck. This is usually the route water from the hot water heater takes when it is going to your bildge (not the only thing that can be putting water there so be carful)
Where does you head sink drain to?
Tom: What I would do is sprinkle some talc powder around the base of the forward thru hulls. See if they are getting wet. The other thing is the head sink. Ours is located above the water line and does NOT have a seacock on it. I would check this out too. If you are getting any type of wave action in the harbor, it could be leaking from there.
Tom: What I would do is sprinkle some talc powder around the base of the forward thru hulls. See if they are getting wet. The other thing is the head sink. Ours is located above the water line and does NOT have a seacock on it. I would check this out too. If you are getting any type of wave action in the harbor, it could be leaking from there.
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Tom
Still looking...additional info:
The leak is present whether I am on the boat or not. It is about 1-2 quarts a day. The water is present from the lower hole in the forward area of the bilge. This hole drains an area between the pan and the hull. I inspected the water heater and saw no leaks. I'll remove the table leg and take a look. The water pump does not run. The sink in the head does have a seacock (well gate valve) and that looks fine. So I have opened as many areas as I can to look under the floor or pan (except the table post) and see no water. I'll keep looking and let you know if I find it before I pull it from the water...
The leak is present whether I am on the boat or not. It is about 1-2 quarts a day. The water is present from the lower hole in the forward area of the bilge. This hole drains an area between the pan and the hull. I inspected the water heater and saw no leaks. I'll remove the table leg and take a look. The water pump does not run. The sink in the head does have a seacock (well gate valve) and that looks fine. So I have opened as many areas as I can to look under the floor or pan (except the table post) and see no water. I'll keep looking and let you know if I find it before I pull it from the water...
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Peter Roach
A couple of other ideas
- Do you have refirgeration? If so the stern bildge comes in though the route you described. It could have a lot of condensation. - Also, if your ice box hose becomes disconnected it could go in through this same route. The pan system on these boats are very complex for dranage. Water can get in and sit for several days / weeks and only come out when the right conditions exists. That is why I used west system on the bottom of my floorboards. Sorry to be soooooo presistent. Finding leaks on an H34 has become a quest in my life!!!!!!
- Do you have refirgeration? If so the stern bildge comes in though the route you described. It could have a lot of condensation. - Also, if your ice box hose becomes disconnected it could go in through this same route. The pan system on these boats are very complex for dranage. Water can get in and sit for several days / weeks and only come out when the right conditions exists. That is why I used west system on the bottom of my floorboards. Sorry to be soooooo presistent. Finding leaks on an H34 has become a quest in my life!!!!!!
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Tom
Don't mind persistance
Peter, Thanks for the additional thoughts. No refrigeration. I've checked the icebox drain hose and it appeared intact. I'll re-check that. I still believe that it is coming in from a thru-hull but I'll keep checking all potential sources. Tom
Peter, Thanks for the additional thoughts. No refrigeration. I've checked the icebox drain hose and it appeared intact. I'll re-check that. I still believe that it is coming in from a thru-hull but I'll keep checking all potential sources. Tom
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