Leaking Keel bolts

[Dave]

I purchased a 1985 Hunter 23. I inspected it in the water before buying it, and the keel well was dry. We trailed it up from Virgina, and when we placed it in the water, water started seeping in under the floor boards. I am trying to avoid taking her out of the water till fall and fix it then, but does anyone have any sugestions on temporary solutions, and how to fix it correctly in the off season?

 

[John Schaub]

Check to see if they are tight

First thing to do is check and see if they need to be tightened. I can't remember the torque setting but if you do a search in the archives you can find it. When I bought my 1986 h23 last fall I couldn't believe how loose they were.

 

[Steve Ullrich]

Water in the bilge...

Hi Dave,Water under the boards doesn't necessarily mean your keel bolts are the problem. Check the lower rudder mount, the through hull for the cockpit drain and the cockpit drain hose itself. If water comes into the lazarette from any of these sources it will end up under the floor boards. Check the forum archives, there are a lot of postings about water on H23's. All of the leaks can be located and fixed without a lot of expense.