As I prepare my 1986 H23 for launch and mooring this Saturday, I continue to have water collect in the center keel/bilge area under the cabin sole. The boat is sitting in my driveway. All deck hardware/fixtures have been rebed in fresh LifeSeal caulk. The entire hatch is covered by a waterproof tarp. Both drainage hoses (anchor locker and cockpit) have been replaced. There is no visible sign of leaks into the cabin (the wall carpets are all dry.) Based on a few ingenious (haha) tests, I believe the water is coming from somewhere in the stern, not the bow. Is it possible that rain water could be entering the boat via the top edge of the rub rail and entering the boat via screw holes that connect the rail to the boat? (Is the deck fastened to the hull via screws) Could rain water get into the "lip" between deck and hull, and then travel this lip to the stern where it spills into the bilge area and settles back to the lowpoint in the center of the boat? Help! I'm sick of this!
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Doug T.
Positive pressure test
Seal up all the large "holes" in your boat (hatches, opening portlights, etc.) Duct tape a sheet of heavy duty plastic to cover your companionway. Put the business end of a leaf blower through a whole in the plastic. Turn it on. Wet your boat with soapy water. Look for bubbles forming at all of the possible entry places. Good luck!!
Seal up all the large "holes" in your boat (hatches, opening portlights, etc.) Duct tape a sheet of heavy duty plastic to cover your companionway. Put the business end of a leaf blower through a whole in the plastic. Turn it on. Wet your boat with soapy water. Look for bubbles forming at all of the possible entry places. Good luck!!
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Ralph Johnstone
A word of caution ..........................
........ about the positive pressure test. Even if the leaf blower can develop only 1 psi within the interior of the cabin, stop and consider the total force on the deck. Let's see now, that's ..... one pound for every square inch, 144 pounds for every square foot ...... see what I'm getting at ? What you may try doing (no guarantees) is to dry up all water in the bige areas as a starting point. Then, when the exterior of the boat is dry, go around the rub rail with a high pressure dental water pic directed at the upper edge of the rub rail. Check the bilge for new water. This may help to determine whether the water is coming through the rub rail. Finding out exactly which point will be more time consuming. Good luck, s/v Island Hunter
........ about the positive pressure test. Even if the leaf blower can develop only 1 psi within the interior of the cabin, stop and consider the total force on the deck. Let's see now, that's ..... one pound for every square inch, 144 pounds for every square foot ...... see what I'm getting at ? What you may try doing (no guarantees) is to dry up all water in the bige areas as a starting point. Then, when the exterior of the boat is dry, go around the rub rail with a high pressure dental water pic directed at the upper edge of the rub rail. Check the bilge for new water. This may help to determine whether the water is coming through the rub rail. Finding out exactly which point will be more time consuming. Good luck, s/v Island Hunter
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Mark Major
Water intrusion
I found much of my rainwater intrusion came from heavy rains accumulating on cockpit seating and running in through the lazarette hatch. I installed drains at the gutter low point via thru hulls, but in retrospect would recommend draining into the cockpit. Mark Major, s/v Lesismor, 86H23
I found much of my rainwater intrusion came from heavy rains accumulating on cockpit seating and running in through the lazarette hatch. I installed drains at the gutter low point via thru hulls, but in retrospect would recommend draining into the cockpit. Mark Major, s/v Lesismor, 86H23
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Doug T.
Exploding boat
Ralph, do you seriously think that a leaf blower is going to blow the deck off the boat??? First, it'll blow the leaf blower out of the hole or the plastic off the companionway. If a leafblower can blow the deck off your boat, you have much more serious problems on your hands than a few leaks.
Ralph, do you seriously think that a leaf blower is going to blow the deck off the boat??? First, it'll blow the leaf blower out of the hole or the plastic off the companionway. If a leafblower can blow the deck off your boat, you have much more serious problems on your hands than a few leaks.
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Greg Sampson
I had some leaks...
and rather than wait for a rain storm, I emptied the bilge, closed up the boat (with me inside) and turned on a sprinkler, then spent the next 1/2 hours going over every spot where the water could enter. Hopefully your boat is at your house, I was in a boatyard and I am sure it was quite a scene
and rather than wait for a rain storm, I emptied the bilge, closed up the boat (with me inside) and turned on a sprinkler, then spent the next 1/2 hours going over every spot where the water could enter. Hopefully your boat is at your house, I was in a boatyard and I am sure it was quite a scene
leak detection
Crazy Dave Condon used to recommend the leaf blower test, he is a hunter dealer for thos of u who may be new here , but a really smart guy ,knows his hunters, the other method I have seen described here is to used a material like flour , sprinkle it around on the floor , seats minus cushions etc, and wait for the water to collect and supposedly there will be a trail thru the flour and u can track it back wards , have not used this method, what I do know is that our 23 would collect water in the drive way but not at a mooring , it headed in to the wind and got no water , sitting at a dock is another matter, good luck Mike Bacome
Crazy Dave Condon used to recommend the leaf blower test, he is a hunter dealer for thos of u who may be new here , but a really smart guy ,knows his hunters, the other method I have seen described here is to used a material like flour , sprinkle it around on the floor , seats minus cushions etc, and wait for the water to collect and supposedly there will be a trail thru the flour and u can track it back wards , have not used this method, what I do know is that our 23 would collect water in the drive way but not at a mooring , it headed in to the wind and got no water , sitting at a dock is another matter, good luck Mike Bacome
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