Hi ... my name is tj and I recently purchased a 1984 Hunter 37 cutter. I plan some updates and modification for offshore cruising. 1) Any reason I should not seal off the scuppers on the port and starboard aft portion of the deck; and the one in the shallow port cockpit lazerette? The boat is leaking and the only place I can see obvious leaks are from those scuppers. 2) Any reason I can't move the batteries to the boats centerline, above the keel/bilge, beneath cockpit sole. The boat has a slight starboard list and I think it's from the batteries stored in the starboard lazerette.
scuppers
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37 cutter modifications
No reason you can not move the battery bank to center line so long as you do so correctly (securing them and running cables safely)You can buy and install battery trays or cases or make them yourself but the job sounds easier then it will be to do. It might be just as easy to offset the weight by placing some other weight opposite them, i.e. extra fuel or water if you are serious about ocean cruising or even just some lead weights as a balance. As far as the scuppers in the cockpit I would not close them off as they were designed to drain any water that would enter. If you are an ocean cruiser you risk a wave over the bow and water entering the cockpit area, if not even a heavy rain will put water in the cockpit. might just as well repair the leaks, probably just a hose.You could block them off temporarily and fill the cockpit with water to see if it would drain with out the scuppers but I suspect they are there because they are needed. Good Luck !
No reason you can not move the battery bank to center line so long as you do so correctly (securing them and running cables safely)You can buy and install battery trays or cases or make them yourself but the job sounds easier then it will be to do. It might be just as easy to offset the weight by placing some other weight opposite them, i.e. extra fuel or water if you are serious about ocean cruising or even just some lead weights as a balance. As far as the scuppers in the cockpit I would not close them off as they were designed to drain any water that would enter. If you are an ocean cruiser you risk a wave over the bow and water entering the cockpit area, if not even a heavy rain will put water in the cockpit. might just as well repair the leaks, probably just a hose.You could block them off temporarily and fill the cockpit with water to see if it would drain with out the scuppers but I suspect they are there because they are needed. Good Luck !
q and comment about the scuppers
On my 37c, interestingly enough, there is no drain in the shallow port lazarette, assuming you mean the one under the port seat not at the rear. When I get back to the boat I'll take a look and see if it was sealed, or never there. I have to air it out periodically, but it has never leaked. The drains on deck surface, however, appear to be vital because they sit at a low spot and if they were removed the water would pool there every time it got wet, an invitation for more leaks to the inside. I would check the seal along the toe rail at the drain, the seal around the drain itself, and the drain pipe. On a dry day you could test this by pouring a bit of water and tracing its path. Let us know how it turns out. Sanders s/v Good News
On my 37c, interestingly enough, there is no drain in the shallow port lazarette, assuming you mean the one under the port seat not at the rear. When I get back to the boat I'll take a look and see if it was sealed, or never there. I have to air it out periodically, but it has never leaked. The drains on deck surface, however, appear to be vital because they sit at a low spot and if they were removed the water would pool there every time it got wet, an invitation for more leaks to the inside. I would check the seal along the toe rail at the drain, the seal around the drain itself, and the drain pipe. On a dry day you could test this by pouring a bit of water and tracing its path. Let us know how it turns out. Sanders s/v Good News
batteries
TJ I have had L-16's (350 AH) in the bilge of my 37c for several years now. No problems to date. Much easier to service. Just be sure to run the largest tinned cables you can afford. see link for pix
TJ I have had L-16's (350 AH) in the bilge of my 37c for several years now. No problems to date. Much easier to service. Just be sure to run the largest tinned cables you can afford. see link for pix
TJ, did you buy a local boat
if so, which one? My house bank is in the bilge on my 37C, 4 group 24 or 27 ( I forget) 100 amp each. They sit across the bilge ( long side across the boat) on an aluminum shelf with holes for access to the keel bolts. Start batt is in starboard cockpit locker. In the meantime, fill your fuel tank ( 40+ gal capacity) and see if boat levels out. Port cockpit locker drain you could seal, but for this and the deck drains, I would replace the thru deck fitting and hoses rather than plug them. Access to the port side is easy, but I forget how to get to the starboard drain. The low spot on the deck is aft of the drains and there is standing water there on my boat which turns into a muck swamp after a couple of weeks sitting idle. Plugging the deck drains would make the swamp even bigger. Scott
if so, which one? My house bank is in the bilge on my 37C, 4 group 24 or 27 ( I forget) 100 amp each. They sit across the bilge ( long side across the boat) on an aluminum shelf with holes for access to the keel bolts. Start batt is in starboard cockpit locker. In the meantime, fill your fuel tank ( 40+ gal capacity) and see if boat levels out. Port cockpit locker drain you could seal, but for this and the deck drains, I would replace the thru deck fitting and hoses rather than plug them. Access to the port side is easy, but I forget how to get to the starboard drain. The low spot on the deck is aft of the drains and there is standing water there on my boat which turns into a muck swamp after a couple of weeks sitting idle. Plugging the deck drains would make the swamp even bigger. Scott
batteries, scuppers and listing ... oh my
Thanks guys. I appreciate your help. I purchased the boat locally; Oak Harbor, WA. It was "Brassbounder." Does Seattle have a Hunter's Club where Hunter Owners commune. I was thinking about gluing/glassing some wood frames onto the inside of the bilge, and securing a removeable shelf, on which the batteries would sit (as Richard's link shows). When I need to get to the bilge I can pull out the batteries and the shelf for good access to the bilge. It's great to know others have done it successfully. Thank you. Regarding the starboard list, I checked my tanks and they are all equally full ... well, all are half full. The only variable is the waste tank; I don't know how full it is. Even so, I'm not sure the batteries, in their current location (bottom of the starborad lazarette), or a full waste tank should make the boat list. I've emptied the boat completely of gear. I'll keep you posted. The deck scuppers are all easily accessible and the leaks appear to be at the hose-scupper joint, an easy enough fix. I'm probably overthinking this, but I see potential for abuse to the hose causing damage to the hull/deck where the scupper is attached; in addition to the leaks I'm already experiencing. I figured the scuppers were positioned secondary to a low spot in the deck, but I'm not convinced the scupper-cure is better than the low-spot problem. I purchased some drain plugs for the scuppers and I will let you know the results. Thanks again for all your help ... tj
Thanks guys. I appreciate your help. I purchased the boat locally; Oak Harbor, WA. It was "Brassbounder." Does Seattle have a Hunter's Club where Hunter Owners commune. I was thinking about gluing/glassing some wood frames onto the inside of the bilge, and securing a removeable shelf, on which the batteries would sit (as Richard's link shows). When I need to get to the bilge I can pull out the batteries and the shelf for good access to the bilge. It's great to know others have done it successfully. Thank you. Regarding the starboard list, I checked my tanks and they are all equally full ... well, all are half full. The only variable is the waste tank; I don't know how full it is. Even so, I'm not sure the batteries, in their current location (bottom of the starborad lazarette), or a full waste tank should make the boat list. I've emptied the boat completely of gear. I'll keep you posted. The deck scuppers are all easily accessible and the leaks appear to be at the hose-scupper joint, an easy enough fix. I'm probably overthinking this, but I see potential for abuse to the hose causing damage to the hull/deck where the scupper is attached; in addition to the leaks I'm already experiencing. I figured the scuppers were positioned secondary to a low spot in the deck, but I'm not convinced the scupper-cure is better than the low-spot problem. I purchased some drain plugs for the scuppers and I will let you know the results. Thanks again for all your help ... tj
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