I had previously asked for comments on severe cabin top damage to may P42. I have just determined the cause for the damage. The boat was previously always stored mast up for winter but this winter I had it pulled for the first time (1996 model). The cause fo the damage should be noted by ALL HUNTER OWNERS WITH DECK STEPPED MASTS (REGARDLESS OF SIZE) WHO STORE OVER THE WINTER. It seems that water entered the mast compression post through the wiring inlet hole from the deck, building up over the years. HUNTER DOES NOT PROVIDE A WEEP HOLE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST! This winter, the compression post became completely filled with water. This then froze and turned to ice, expanding 9% by volume. This forced the top of the compression post upward (the top part with the upper anchor plate for the mast step telescopes into the primary lower portion). Damage was very severe, breaking the windshield seals, cracking and tearing the headliner and the main deck and possibly costing $5-$10,000 to repair. The entire problem could have been avoided if HUNTER had only drilled a 1/8 to 3/16 inch dia. weep hole near the base of the compression. When I drilled such a hole, water spurted out in a 3 foot stream across the floorboards empting several gallons of water from it. At this time, the Hunter warranty reps suspect that they will not accept responsibility although I feel that it is a blatant design error. They say that if the wiring inlet hole is properlly sealed this should never happen. However, the seal can always crack, become disloged or otherwise admit some amount of water, even if properly done at some point Regardless of the outcome... I URGE ALL OWNERS TO DRILL A SMALL WEEP HOLE NEAR THE BASE OF THEIR COMPRESSION POSTS TO ASSURE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN! Please feel free to comment more. I'd like to knoe more about how other owners feel.
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mike katz
compression post
I had a similar experience on my P42. Water got in to it, froze, expanded, split the post and elevated the cabin-top, but not enough to do the damage you described. It was back in 1992 or so, and I'm alittle fuzzy, but I believe Hunter helped with some of the cost. They've been fair with me over the years. Mike
I had a similar experience on my P42. Water got in to it, froze, expanded, split the post and elevated the cabin-top, but not enough to do the damage you described. It was back in 1992 or so, and I'm alittle fuzzy, but I believe Hunter helped with some of the cost. They've been fair with me over the years. Mike
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Mickey Goodman
Water in Life Line Posts
A friend of mine who owns a Legend 37 told me of a similar problem with the Life Line posts on his 37. He recommeneds that you drill holes is the base of the post to drain any water build-up. I know he had to replace life line posts due to the freezing problem. I will be out with my drill this weekend.
A friend of mine who owns a Legend 37 told me of a similar problem with the Life Line posts on his 37. He recommeneds that you drill holes is the base of the post to drain any water build-up. I know he had to replace life line posts due to the freezing problem. I will be out with my drill this weekend.
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Bradley Cavedo
Most Unfortunate
We will be drilling a hole in our 42's post asap. It doesn't get as cold down here and the boat stays in the water year round. But thanks for the post and good luck with the repairs.
We will be drilling a hole in our 42's post asap. It doesn't get as cold down here and the boat stays in the water year round. But thanks for the post and good luck with the repairs.
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Canadice Stein
Stanchions should also be drilled...
During the pre-purchase survey of our '93 H28 last spring, our surveyor noted that the lifelines were pinched in several of the stanchions. Since the boat is stored on the hard in Vermont he figured it to be caused by water getting trapped in the stanchions. It freezes and pushes the inserts up out of place where the lifelines pass through. On one of them it was even forceful enough to bend the hole in the stainless steel to a rather large oval. That water can be pretty forceful stuff, frozen or not. Drill in the drain holes!
During the pre-purchase survey of our '93 H28 last spring, our surveyor noted that the lifelines were pinched in several of the stanchions. Since the boat is stored on the hard in Vermont he figured it to be caused by water getting trapped in the stanchions. It freezes and pushes the inserts up out of place where the lifelines pass through. On one of them it was even forceful enough to bend the hole in the stainless steel to a rather large oval. That water can be pretty forceful stuff, frozen or not. Drill in the drain holes!
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Bruce Hill
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Rod Leonard
Gerry
I might be wrong but shame on you if no one put some kind of a covering over the mast receiver. Even if there had been a hole drilled whats to say it wouldn't be plugged with dirt & junk. Also when it started to freeze it would have froze close the hole than still done the damage. The key is to keep the water out before it gets there. If I'm wrong so be it Rod
I might be wrong but shame on you if no one put some kind of a covering over the mast receiver. Even if there had been a hole drilled whats to say it wouldn't be plugged with dirt & junk. Also when it started to freeze it would have froze close the hole than still done the damage. The key is to keep the water out before it gets there. If I'm wrong so be it Rod
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Jerry Boone
weep hole
If you drill a hole.... don't forget to check it often, to make sure it doesn't clog.... because it will. If you lightly tap on the compression post with a metal object... and you hear kind of a dull sound, instead of a ring to it... it most likely is full of water.
If you drill a hole.... don't forget to check it often, to make sure it doesn't clog.... because it will. If you lightly tap on the compression post with a metal object... and you hear kind of a dull sound, instead of a ring to it... it most likely is full of water.
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Paul Akers
Read it and weep
As Mickey and Candice mentioned earlier, I had my lifelines cut by the water freezing in the stanchions. I ended up replacing 5 of 6 stanchions as well as the lifelines. Even the new stanchions didn't have the weep holes. I bought them from Hunter and they recommended that I drill them. Simply drill a 1/8" hole at the base of the stanchion for the water to weep out. When I drilled them at the end of the summer the water came shooting out.
As Mickey and Candice mentioned earlier, I had my lifelines cut by the water freezing in the stanchions. I ended up replacing 5 of 6 stanchions as well as the lifelines. Even the new stanchions didn't have the weep holes. I bought them from Hunter and they recommended that I drill them. Simply drill a 1/8" hole at the base of the stanchion for the water to weep out. When I drilled them at the end of the summer the water came shooting out.
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