Today I got involved in a thorough "spring cleaning" of the interior of my '85 H-31. Right down to the bilges! While cleaning the small bilge that is directly in front of the cabin steps (not the engine bilge, but the next one forward), I noticed a small grey drain tube, about 3/8" that enters from the rear of the bilge. Can't for the life of me figure out where it comes from or why it goes there. This particular bilge doesn't drain anywhere. I know what it's not. It's not the drain from the icebox (that goes to the main bilge), and it's not from the engine bilge. It's just one of those little Hunter mysteries... Anyone want to venture a guess? -Richard S/V "Discovery" San Francisco
Mystery Drain...
- Thread starter Richard Deep
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Vent?
Could it be a vent hose from something on the engine. I've got the same bilge in my 94 35.5 but nothing running into it and no way for anything in there to drain anywhere.
Could it be a vent hose from something on the engine. I've got the same bilge in my 94 35.5 but nothing running into it and no way for anything in there to drain anywhere.
My 1987 H-31 does not have anything like that, either. I purchased the Fiber Optic Scope from Nothern Tools (link below) so I could see what was below or behind "hidden spaces" and the interliner. Works Great! bill
OEM drain for shower.
Richard: It is a drain for the shower pan. My 1985 Hunter 31 was hull number 505. I do not know how that area would drain without that hole. I suppose that they put a tube in there so the water would go from the shower bilge to the main bilge and not get trapped between the hull and the liner.
Richard: It is a drain for the shower pan. My 1985 Hunter 31 was hull number 505. I do not know how that area would drain without that hole. I suppose that they put a tube in there so the water would go from the shower bilge to the main bilge and not get trapped between the hull and the liner.
H31 Shower drain
Steve, my 1987 H31 Hull # 738, shower drain, goes in the "main" bilge. Isn't Richard saying that this drain comes from the stern forward into the small recessed area "bilge" at the bottom of the stairs? My Fiber Optic Scope answered almost all of my questions about the spaces under the interliner. bill
Steve, my 1987 H31 Hull # 738, shower drain, goes in the "main" bilge. Isn't Richard saying that this drain comes from the stern forward into the small recessed area "bilge" at the bottom of the stairs? My Fiber Optic Scope answered almost all of my questions about the spaces under the interliner. bill
It drains from the space between liner and hull
The cabin floor and walls are actually an 'inner liner' installed on top of the hull itself, and there is space between these two fiberglass moldings. If you open either of the covers in the quarterberth, you can see into this void - the surface of the quarterberth is the liner, and below is the hull. In most of the boat, there is very little space between the two moldings, but it is there. I found out about this space when I had a leaky stuffing box - it filled up the engine pan and leaked into the space through the hole on the starboard side for the coolant hoses. Filled up the space and then leaked into the bilge proper through a hole on the port side of the upper bilge level. I don't think there's any way to 'seal' this space. I suspect it gets dirty down there, so a good suggestion I've heard is to put 20 or so gallons of fresh water and some bilge soap/bleach into it, and then go sailing! Cheers, Bob s/y X SAIL R 8
The cabin floor and walls are actually an 'inner liner' installed on top of the hull itself, and there is space between these two fiberglass moldings. If you open either of the covers in the quarterberth, you can see into this void - the surface of the quarterberth is the liner, and below is the hull. In most of the boat, there is very little space between the two moldings, but it is there. I found out about this space when I had a leaky stuffing box - it filled up the engine pan and leaked into the space through the hole on the starboard side for the coolant hoses. Filled up the space and then leaked into the bilge proper through a hole on the port side of the upper bilge level. I don't think there's any way to 'seal' this space. I suspect it gets dirty down there, so a good suggestion I've heard is to put 20 or so gallons of fresh water and some bilge soap/bleach into it, and then go sailing! Cheers, Bob s/y X SAIL R 8
Just A Guess *!
Guys, this is only a guess. But this bilge at the bottom of the steps could be a catch drain for water that comes over the companion way during a heavy rain, or a mighty big wave over the bow. I also have sat and pondered the mystery of the bilge with no entrance or exit. I think mine has a gray drain tube at the bottom towards the main bilge. But that could have been to much Capt'n Morgan. Not sure. I think some of the designers on the Hunter 31 went out to lunch and never came back. What about the square hole at the bottome of the starboard lazerett? Maybe batteries you think? Mine batteries are jammed just behind the stuffing box. But I love this boat. Robert on: "As Time Goes By" St. Louis, MO.
Guys, this is only a guess. But this bilge at the bottom of the steps could be a catch drain for water that comes over the companion way during a heavy rain, or a mighty big wave over the bow. I also have sat and pondered the mystery of the bilge with no entrance or exit. I think mine has a gray drain tube at the bottom towards the main bilge. But that could have been to much Capt'n Morgan. Not sure. I think some of the designers on the Hunter 31 went out to lunch and never came back. What about the square hole at the bottome of the starboard lazerett? Maybe batteries you think? Mine batteries are jammed just behind the stuffing box. But I love this boat. Robert on: "As Time Goes By" St. Louis, MO.
I think Bob is correct...
I gather we are talking about the bilge "compartment" closest to the engine that includes the keel bolts. Mine drains toward the main bilge and no where else as far as I know. That being said, that bilge section never drains completely, but when I do my semi-annual bilge bleaching, the bleach solution definately gets into and then drains from that area. I'm not sure of its real purpose, but it does give keel bolt access, and its at the base of the companionway, which tends to get wet when it rains like Bob said. Paul
I gather we are talking about the bilge "compartment" closest to the engine that includes the keel bolts. Mine drains toward the main bilge and no where else as far as I know. That being said, that bilge section never drains completely, but when I do my semi-annual bilge bleaching, the bleach solution definately gets into and then drains from that area. I'm not sure of its real purpose, but it does give keel bolt access, and its at the base of the companionway, which tends to get wet when it rains like Bob said. Paul
Is It a "Lumber" hole...
...that collects water from another part of the boat and deposits it there? Lumber holes are used to drain section of the "grid" into other sections (or grid sections) so that the water won't pool in the original sections.
...that collects water from another part of the boat and deposits it there? Lumber holes are used to drain section of the "grid" into other sections (or grid sections) so that the water won't pool in the original sections.
Mysterym hose
I have a H27 1981 with similar hoses. They contain wires running from one bilge compartment to another on my boat.
I have a H27 1981 with similar hoses. They contain wires running from one bilge compartment to another on my boat.
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