still got water in bilge

twalker H260 · Aug 3, 2016

A few additional common places to check.
1: Tower under table where the compression post mounts to centreboard bracket top. Frequently the bedding in this area will go and you will get water making its way along the top of the tank - often becomes evident in the galley cupboard when heeled.

2: top of compression post - under mast step - during heavy rain our 260 gets water running down compression post.

3: deck to hull joint where lower rudder mount is located. Place chalk, tissue paper or something similar as far act as you can under cockpit. If leaking here you will see water trail.

Rick Macdonald · Aug 3, 2016

As has been suggested at least twice, placing tissue or paper towels in many places in the bilge will help you find where the water is coming in.

Neither of the main leaks I fixed on my H23.5 may apply to the H26, but here they are anyway:

http://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/h23-5-centerboard-compression-post-leak.121278/

http://forums.sailboatowners.com/in...-and-runs-into-bilge-through-the-pump.121532/

plenny7 · Aug 3, 2016

I'm not sure if this affects the H26 but my 1992 33.5 has a false bilge. I can get it completely dry but after sailing I'll find a bit of water in it from heeling over. See this thread for further discussion:
http://forums.sailboatowners.com/in...n-false-bilge-in-hunter-34-bilge-liner.36573/

Kings Gambit · Aug 3, 2016

I've had water get in at the rudder post sleeve in other boats. Only when sailing does it enter that way. I don't know how the H26 is set up there, however.

John23883 · Aug 4, 2016

If you only get water in when sailing, then it may be the hull to deck joint in the stern. That's where my water came in and only while sailing, never from just sitting in the water. One would think if it was split as much as I note below that it would leak while sitting in the water, but it never did. I assume the stress while sailing opened the split more and allowed the water in.

The boat will have to be on the trailer to do this: Have someone inside the boat with a flashlight looking through the two holes in the stern berth bulkhead. The fiberglass is about 1/8 thick at the joint, thicker at the rudder. Take an air-compressor nozzle and placing it against the stern about an 1/8 in from the edge, walk it around the stern blowing into the boat. Walk it around the top deck edge and then the bottom hull edge. If it is leaking there, the person inside should see water spraying in.

The bonding material gets brittle and separates, I used a small narrow chisel because I was afraid something powered could get away from me and do some damage. I chipped all the material out until it got solid. Another advantage of doing it by hand is I could tell when the material was still good. This ended up to be around 4-5 feet if I recall. Not what I was hoping for when I started. I then used "bondo glass" to fill the area and then gel coat on the top. Still fine after about 10 years.

Benny17441 · Aug 4, 2016

There could be missed places and fixtures it might be coming from but it could be the resettling of old trapped water in the stringers under the sole. It is very common for trapped water to be released into the bilge by boat motion an heeling when underway. You might be surprised depending on the design of the boat how many gallons of water could be hiding under the sole.

Crazy Dave Condon · Aug 6, 2016

WI;
I can probably help you here as a retired dealer who frankly was very much involved with this boat and all the other Hunter water ballast. The first question, do you get water in when sailing or can you tell me if the boat sits in the water with no one on the boat, do you find water afterwards? This will determine what direction to go before you go nuts trying to figure this one out. Are you in Canada or the U.S. will determine if we can talk on the phone.