My bilge pump fires up every 3-5 minutes and pumps out a cup or two of water. I expect I have a leak below the water line. How do I determine the source? I'll check each of the thru hulls but how do I know if its at the hull /keel joint? And what do I do to repair this if it is? (Hoping its a thru hull/sea cock as the keel joint appears intimidating). Is the keel joint a common fault. I must say I am becoming frustrated with Hunter design and QC as the boat is only 7 years old and was purchased newer to avoid issues. I'm leaning toward Bavarias' now for reasons of superior design fit and finish. Hunters look beautiful but are a pain to work on and show little quality under the surface. Am I being reasonable?
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Packing gland
I would first check the packing gland, after that close all thru hulls and see if the leaking persists, if not, open one at a time. Just a matter of checking one area at a time. Keep the batteries charged!
I would first check the packing gland, after that close all thru hulls and see if the leaking persists, if not, open one at a time. Just a matter of checking one area at a time. Keep the batteries charged!
At least investigate the source of the leak
before placing blame. Check through the hull valves, instrument transducers, packing gland and water tank. If all fails then check the keel/hull joint. If fault is found there inspect the keel for evidence of a hard grounding. Newer is unfortunately not new. It pressuposes there was a previous owner who may or may not have provided adequate maintenance and care to the boat.
before placing blame. Check through the hull valves, instrument transducers, packing gland and water tank. If all fails then check the keel/hull joint. If fault is found there inspect the keel for evidence of a hard grounding. Newer is unfortunately not new. It pressuposes there was a previous owner who may or may not have provided adequate maintenance and care to the boat.
Possible reason bilge pump cycling
Geoff, Benny & Charlie had some good suggestions. Leaking through the keel bolts is not a problem I have heard of on the 340's. I have had mine since new for nearly 11 years. Are you in salt water of fresh water? You did not post your location. The h340 has a very small bilge and several 340's had an issue with the bilge pump outlet hose draining back into the bilge after the bilge pump shut off and this would raise the level enough to activate the bilge pump the bilge pump would continuously cycle every few minutes. Remove the water from the bilge with a sponge or something and see if water continues to come in. The knotmeter transducer as mentioned in the previous post if not installed correctly will leak. Make sure the keyway is aligned if you remove or reinstall the thru-hull speed transducer. To answer your last question, you are being unreasonable. I have worked on many boats in my life and the Hunter boats are equal or better than many production boats. You will find lots of help and support on this web site. Wayne Estabrooks s/v Wind Drift
Geoff, Benny & Charlie had some good suggestions. Leaking through the keel bolts is not a problem I have heard of on the 340's. I have had mine since new for nearly 11 years. Are you in salt water of fresh water? You did not post your location. The h340 has a very small bilge and several 340's had an issue with the bilge pump outlet hose draining back into the bilge after the bilge pump shut off and this would raise the level enough to activate the bilge pump the bilge pump would continuously cycle every few minutes. Remove the water from the bilge with a sponge or something and see if water continues to come in. The knotmeter transducer as mentioned in the previous post if not installed correctly will leak. Make sure the keyway is aligned if you remove or reinstall the thru-hull speed transducer. To answer your last question, you are being unreasonable. I have worked on many boats in my life and the Hunter boats are equal or better than many production boats. You will find lots of help and support on this web site. Wayne Estabrooks s/v Wind Drift
Agree with Wayne
All boats have issues. Specific issues to particular models and years but the good news is a web site like this has a large number of owners who contribute their experiences to the data base. As you have already seen, suggestions are coming in as to your questions. Some may be helpful while others not but the community is always here to benefit all of us. I wonder if you had issues with a model of Bavaria if you would find the large number of suggestions of possible common issues with them? As to your problem of a small leak, it may seem an annoyance but in the scheme of things it is far from a catastrophic failure. Many of us have had such a problem and in a perfect world I would agree that this shouldn't happen but we are not living in a perfect world and as they say s..t happens. Just be thankful that you will probably resolve this with help from your fellow sailors.
All boats have issues. Specific issues to particular models and years but the good news is a web site like this has a large number of owners who contribute their experiences to the data base. As you have already seen, suggestions are coming in as to your questions. Some may be helpful while others not but the community is always here to benefit all of us. I wonder if you had issues with a model of Bavaria if you would find the large number of suggestions of possible common issues with them? As to your problem of a small leak, it may seem an annoyance but in the scheme of things it is far from a catastrophic failure. Many of us have had such a problem and in a perfect world I would agree that this shouldn't happen but we are not living in a perfect world and as they say s..t happens. Just be thankful that you will probably resolve this with help from your fellow sailors.
Good perspectives
Thanks to all for your valuable comments and philosophy!! I have a new persective and an orderly way to go about solving my two issues starting with the simple causes and moving up. No need to catastrophize! It surely helps to have a large community of fellow Hunter owners for support and Hunter surely has an advantage here. Sleeping better and looking forward to exploring my boat some more. Thanks everyone! Boat is in freshwater but was a saltie until 3 years ago.
Thanks to all for your valuable comments and philosophy!! I have a new persective and an orderly way to go about solving my two issues starting with the simple causes and moving up. No need to catastrophize! It surely helps to have a large community of fellow Hunter owners for support and Hunter surely has an advantage here. Sleeping better and looking forward to exploring my boat some more. Thanks everyone! Boat is in freshwater but was a saltie until 3 years ago.
i also agree with Wayne
Geoff, the water drains back into the bilge and sets the pump off. Do not add a check valve, the weight of the water in the line will prevent the valve form opening and burn out your bilge pump. I added a PSS dripless stuffing box and it keeps my bilge dry. Where do you keep your boat in Toronto, I'm in Oakville.
Geoff, the water drains back into the bilge and sets the pump off. Do not add a check valve, the weight of the water in the line will prevent the valve form opening and burn out your bilge pump. I added a PSS dripless stuffing box and it keeps my bilge dry. Where do you keep your boat in Toronto, I'm in Oakville.
Also Check . . .
In addition to the advice you have received (packing gland, transducers, etc.), also check the strainer under the rear berth where water to cool the engine comes in. Mine was loosened by vibration and was the source of the leak. Also, at one point the thru-hull connection was also loose. I assume you have winterized the boat and the water is not pink (anti-freeze). If it is, you have a leak in the water system. Then I'd check the strainer valve under the seat by the table and all the water hoses.
In addition to the advice you have received (packing gland, transducers, etc.), also check the strainer under the rear berth where water to cool the engine comes in. Mine was loosened by vibration and was the source of the leak. Also, at one point the thru-hull connection was also loose. I assume you have winterized the boat and the water is not pink (anti-freeze). If it is, you have a leak in the water system. Then I'd check the strainer valve under the seat by the table and all the water hoses.
Found the leak - thanks to Forum
With the guidance of the responders and my dock neighbour I found the leak. Shut off all of the thru hulls, drained the freshwater, checked the stuffing box gland (requires new packing), emptied the bilge and saw a small stream coming from the port side of the limber hole. Also timed the bilge at every 90 seconds - alot of water for future self reference. With help I traced the stream aft to the stateroom and a hole I drilled to secure the hull liner teak trim to the bed base. I had not realised at this area the bed base and hull were separated by very little. Neighbour loaned me a Dremel and I carefully opened a small area above the leak hole and repaired it with epoxy putty temporarily. I wish I had a cmaera to post the 'pee stream' arching up from the drill hole onto the bed deck!! Like the finger in the dike..... I must say this was humbling life lesson. Here I am cursing Hunter and its my own QC and impatience that got me in trouble. With the help of those of you in the Forum who helped me along and my good dockmate I am on my way. In the process I have had my head and light down every hatch and removed the back wood bulkhead to expose the steering, diesel tank and wiring - all good to see, take a mental picture of and clean up. I bought my first boat to really understand it vs bareboat charters and this is how its done, solving issues. Thanks to all and here's to trying a little more patience, thought and reaching out for help. Cheers Mates!!
With the guidance of the responders and my dock neighbour I found the leak. Shut off all of the thru hulls, drained the freshwater, checked the stuffing box gland (requires new packing), emptied the bilge and saw a small stream coming from the port side of the limber hole. Also timed the bilge at every 90 seconds - alot of water for future self reference. With help I traced the stream aft to the stateroom and a hole I drilled to secure the hull liner teak trim to the bed base. I had not realised at this area the bed base and hull were separated by very little. Neighbour loaned me a Dremel and I carefully opened a small area above the leak hole and repaired it with epoxy putty temporarily. I wish I had a cmaera to post the 'pee stream' arching up from the drill hole onto the bed deck!! Like the finger in the dike..... I must say this was humbling life lesson. Here I am cursing Hunter and its my own QC and impatience that got me in trouble. With the help of those of you in the Forum who helped me along and my good dockmate I am on my way. In the process I have had my head and light down every hatch and removed the back wood bulkhead to expose the steering, diesel tank and wiring - all good to see, take a mental picture of and clean up. I bought my first boat to really understand it vs bareboat charters and this is how its done, solving issues. Thanks to all and here's to trying a little more patience, thought and reaching out for help. Cheers Mates!!
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