New H23 owner

[Jerry10776]

I have several questions about the H23 that I will post over time. First, having come from boats with CBs, swing keels etc., I've always been sure to have working bilge pumps to take care of leakage from the through hull fittings and cabin condensation. I cannot find a location that makes sense (maybe the foward bulkhead of the sail locker?). Since there are no through hull fittings (other than the keel bolts) is a bilge pump needed on this model? Second, other than the motor mount (which I plan to replace) are there any other design problems. The pintles look rather light weight???? My Starwind 22 uses 1/2" SS bolts!! Third, how far should the mast crutch extend above the upper pintle when raising the mast? Last question -- My boat has no galley/chart table. It appears that one was mounted on the 4"x1"x12" block of teak located on the bulkhead between the V berth and the solon. I plan to build a table (20"x26") which will fold in half (10"x26") and then fold down the bulkhead for storage. Comments please? Thanks for your help!!!

 

[Mike Misko]

H23 Through Hulls

Hi Jerry - welcome to the group of H23 owners. My 86 has through hull fittings to drain the anchor locker and a galley sink, as well as the cockpit drain. Sure you don't have any? I do not have a bilge pump, and I don't think many H23 owners have one either. The aft of the 2 compartments in the v-berth was filled with water/ice while stored on the hard when I bought her. Water came in through a leaky hose connecting the anchor locker and through hull drain I mentioned. The 3 small bilge sections where the keel bolts are located also had standing water which appears to have migrated through the rub rails then run down the sides of the cabin wall. A bead of clear silicone caulk along the rub rail/deck joint seems to have stopped this leak for me. Others have done a rubrail replacement to fix the same problem. My last leak is the few drops` I get through the companionway slider when we get just the right combination of heavy rain and driving wind. So far, I just use a strategically placed bucket to catch the few drops. The H23 came with a galley that contains an alchohol stove and small sink. It slides back out of the way on the port side aft of the companionway entrance when not in use. The fresh water is stored in a portable container in the port lazarette and pumped manually to the sink. We needed a pretty big refit to get this boat into the water and as a consequence removed the galley and have not finished reconditioning it yet. Your description of how you plan to build and install a table matches the original design. It is supported by one screw-in leg when folded up and out. Check the photo archives and the link below to get some ideas. This link is a terrific documentation of an extensive restoration by an owner in SC.

 

[Steve677]

H23 leak sites

Mike's web site sure covers it. I have an '85 H23 with no bilge pump. I haven't needed one either, which is a good thing as there isn't any place to put one. I keep her in the water all summer and she is a dry boat. I did have to track down leaks after I bought her as excessive heal brought some truly nasty stuff out from under the hull liner. I had three sites that required attention: The anchor locker drain hose; the cockpit drain hose; the lower rudder pintle. The anchor locker and cockpit hoses were cracked and easy to replace. The lower rudder pintle was more of an issue. I had to fabricate a backing plate to get her sealed tight. I haven't worried much about the companionway hatch but I do take in a little there if the wind is swirling around during a heavy rain. You might also take in a little around the edges of the lazarette cover/door but that shouldn't amount to much either.Enjoy your H23. Fun to sail and pretty fast for her size, especially in lighter air. Be sure and reef early as winds build and you are going to have a great time sailing her.

 

[Jerry]

H23 hull fittings

Mike -- thanks to the links to other sites -- they will help. I do have the through hull fittings you wrote about -- I was refering to fittings below the water line such as swing keel pivots. With a nearly 20 year old boat I can believe that the hoses and hull fitting on the H23 should be checked. As an aside, my Starwind has a PVC valve installed on the sink waste line. I wouldn't think that water would come up through the sink when heeled but ?????