I have a Hunter 34 with a 27 hp Weserbeke- I think hull #32. I just put it in the water and still have the same mysterious leak it had last year. There are no visible leak sources from any through-hulls- though the egine seawater cooling supply is not as accessible as the other 4 thruhulls. I suspect it's leaking at the shaft but I thought I'd see water in the engine/transmission sump. Now I think it might be leaking in through the shaft packing under the sump amd making its way under the bilge and coming up. If I empty the bilge with the pump it refills in 15 minutes. Any ideas? Before I tighten the packing nuts I thought I'd let it swell up after 5 months drying out. Thanks, George
MYSTERY LEAK
- Thread starter GEORGE LEWIS
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George
I had the same problem with my 85 31 when I bought it and first launched her. It turned out to be the thru hull at the overboard dischage for holding tank. On visual inspection it never appeared to be leaking. How I found it was a suggestion from a dock mate- went out and bought a bottle of powderd colored chaulk that is commonly used in chalk line boxes (buy at any Home Depot), dumped it around the suspect areas one at a time, finally could see the chaulk run at the thru hull that leaked. Good luck, i remember how frustrating my ordeal was.
I had the same problem with my 85 31 when I bought it and first launched her. It turned out to be the thru hull at the overboard dischage for holding tank. On visual inspection it never appeared to be leaking. How I found it was a suggestion from a dock mate- went out and bought a bottle of powderd colored chaulk that is commonly used in chalk line boxes (buy at any Home Depot), dumped it around the suspect areas one at a time, finally could see the chaulk run at the thru hull that leaked. Good luck, i remember how frustrating my ordeal was.
Some ideas re your leak
Check around the thru hull for the engine intake- mine is pretty visible ( hull #327) thru the same opening as the stuffing box. Was this leak just as fast as this last year? did it lessen ( if so this is a clue that something is swelling and cutting back on the leak- like your packing material) I keep a little container made from the cutoff bottom 3 or so inches of an anti freeze container under the stuffing box. That way I can see how much dripping is taking place from the stuffing box. I would guess if it is filling up that fast you would see a bunch of water from the stuffing box. you would find your hand very wet if you held it around the stuffing box (engine not running) Is this happening withthe engine running or not? I would suggest pumping out the bilge then drying it out with a sponge then watching with a good light to see where the water is coming from. This is a lot of water - you should be able to see it coming into the bilge easily
Check around the thru hull for the engine intake- mine is pretty visible ( hull #327) thru the same opening as the stuffing box. Was this leak just as fast as this last year? did it lessen ( if so this is a clue that something is swelling and cutting back on the leak- like your packing material) I keep a little container made from the cutoff bottom 3 or so inches of an anti freeze container under the stuffing box. That way I can see how much dripping is taking place from the stuffing box. I would guess if it is filling up that fast you would see a bunch of water from the stuffing box. you would find your hand very wet if you held it around the stuffing box (engine not running) Is this happening withthe engine running or not? I would suggest pumping out the bilge then drying it out with a sponge then watching with a good light to see where the water is coming from. This is a lot of water - you should be able to see it coming into the bilge easily
LEAK HELP
Thanks for the help. This leak happens when the engine is not running. It seems a bit worse now. The bilge fills up from the bottom up- there's actually a hole in the bottom by design I guess. The bilge also has cracks in it so any water coming from beneath the bilge just seeps in. The Hunter tech rep said it seemed like a keel joint leak. I just repaired a crack at the front of the keel that had no effect on the leak. I see no signs of leakage at the keel bolts.
Thanks for the help. This leak happens when the engine is not running. It seems a bit worse now. The bilge fills up from the bottom up- there's actually a hole in the bottom by design I guess. The bilge also has cracks in it so any water coming from beneath the bilge just seeps in. The Hunter tech rep said it seemed like a keel joint leak. I just repaired a crack at the front of the keel that had no effect on the leak. I see no signs of leakage at the keel bolts.
Only leaks when engine is not running
When you run the engine there is a lower pressure in the intake line of the raw water pump. That is why it is not leaking when you run the engine, the leak is drawing air when the engine runs due to the raw water flow causing a lower pressure in the intake line. So the thru hull to hull joint is OK. You just have to check all the connections/hoses from the thru hull fitting to the raw water pump intake port. The hole in the "bottom" of the bilge is a lumber hole and allows the water from one bilge compartment to flow to the lowest bilge compartment. If it is filling up in 15 minutes you should be able to tell which lumber hole the water is flowing from if you have two lumber holes (I don't know your model hull) Pump the bilge and watch which lumber hole is supplying the water. Then go to the next compartment and check there. Talc or string line chalk is a great indicator. Just throw some in the compartment and watch. As you already know, some of the "watching" requires you to be a contortionist. Alas this is boat maintenance and there is no getting around it. Happy sailing.
When you run the engine there is a lower pressure in the intake line of the raw water pump. That is why it is not leaking when you run the engine, the leak is drawing air when the engine runs due to the raw water flow causing a lower pressure in the intake line. So the thru hull to hull joint is OK. You just have to check all the connections/hoses from the thru hull fitting to the raw water pump intake port. The hole in the "bottom" of the bilge is a lumber hole and allows the water from one bilge compartment to flow to the lowest bilge compartment. If it is filling up in 15 minutes you should be able to tell which lumber hole the water is flowing from if you have two lumber holes (I don't know your model hull) Pump the bilge and watch which lumber hole is supplying the water. Then go to the next compartment and check there. Talc or string line chalk is a great indicator. Just throw some in the compartment and watch. As you already know, some of the "watching" requires you to be a contortionist. Alas this is boat maintenance and there is no getting around it. Happy sailing.
Also
Try shutting off the thru hull valve and see if that stops the leak. Not a solution but you can at least have some peace of mind when away from the boat.
Try shutting off the thru hull valve and see if that stops the leak. Not a solution but you can at least have some peace of mind when away from the boat.
THRUHULL LEAK
The through-hulls were all closed when the boat went back in the water and the leak started immediately.
The through-hulls were all closed when the boat went back in the water and the leak started immediately.
leaks
T can't confirm that the leak stops when the engine runs. I have a bit of work to do tomorrow before I start the engine.
T can't confirm that the leak stops when the engine runs. I have a bit of work to do tomorrow before I start the engine.
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