Water balast leak in Hunter 260

[docwells]

I own a Hunter 260, 2004. We have a water leak into the cabin. I've checked all thru-hulls, hoses etc and no leak. I believe I have a leak in the water ballast tank probably due to a heavy hit of the hull on the trailer by the former owner. We have snooped around with a RPVERA micro probe looking for water movement but I have not been able to isolate where it is coming from as the boat is on the water and rocks with the waves. I don't want to just drill holes in the floor of the cabin to find the leak but am out of ideas. Can anyone help??
Thanks

 

[twalker H260]

If you suspect the ballast tank you can add food colouring or some other dye to the tank and see if the stray water is coming from the ballast tank or some other source.
On the 26/260 there are many potential sources of leaks, both from the ballast tank and other sources. If your stray water shows evidence of dye - check the area around the ballast tank fill/drain valve under the cabin step. A leak is possible in this location from the seal around the nut as well as the 1” stopper. Paper towel can be used to help identify the source
If no dye in your stray water you can start looking at some of the other potential sources of leaks. Hull joint aft by rudder, water tank, water lines/connections, hull/bottom of compression post, top of compression post/mast step/centreboard sheave, fixed ports, operable ports, anchor locker, ubolt at bow, companionway boards etc……..

where is your stray water accumulating? By bilge pump, under settees, under galley, under head sink, on top of ballast tank or in bow around water tank?

 

[JoeWhite]

I am not familiar with water ballast, but I assume you can load it on your trailer. If so with no water in the ballast you can come up with an adapter that will allow you to pressurize the ballast with air and you can apply soapy water where it is likely to leak and look for bubbles.

 

[rgranger]

On using dye….

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

If anyone can vouch for me, I sent a P M to @docwells i would be glad to talk with him

Dave

 

[rgranger]

Dave

If anyone can vouch for me, I sent a P M to @docwells i would be glad to talk with him

Dave helped design this boat…

 

[twalker H260]

Dave is the expert on this boat! He will help get you sorted!

 

[docwells]

We put food color in the ballast tank and found the color in the leaked water so definitely from the ballast tank. Now the task of finding where the leak is coming from. The ballast tank is located below the floor in the cabin so visibility is limited. A drawing of the ballast tank would be helpful but haven’t located one?

 

[twalker H260]

Photos from construction phase of h26/260 by Marlow Hunter.

How much water are you getting? A little or a lot? If just a bit place paper towel around the 1” vent seal and the ballast tank drain rod/nut under the cabin step. See if you have evidence of dye after a sail/rocking the boat.

If leaking due to a grounding I would expect the most likely location would be somewhere along the hull/tank top joint. You might be able to see evidence of damage on the hull exterior which would help you determine where to look in the interior. The hull/tank top joint is largely visible - in settees storage areas, bottom of galley and head cupboards and via access hatches under the aft berth. A borescope/endoscope can help with the inspection under the aft berth.

A quick check on the seal of the drain nut/washer/rod and vent plug can be accomplished by getting several friends aboard and having a look under the step access. This method would also assist in having a look at the rest of the tank top areas as well but you will need to work around your assistants! (Sufficient weight aboard will lower the top of the ballast tank below the exterior water line and force water through any holes/openings in the tank top or hull joint. )

rectangular object near the bottom centre of the photo with tank top in place is the piece under the cabin step with the fill/drain and vent are located.

 

[docwells]

Pictures are great. We intend to measure volumes tomorrow. I’m thinking some were between 1-2 gallons 24 hours. We’ve looked with a bore scope for signs of influx but this is difficult to see movement other than the rocking (slight) of the boat. I injected compressed air through the vent hole while looking with the bore scope but saw no bubbles. Looking at the tank, there is a rounded lip over the joint so this might prevent air bubbles from reaching the leak.
We’ve already traced down most of the obvious places but are certainly open to any ideas. Love the pics you posted. Very helpful.
Mike

 

[rgranger]

We put food color in the ballast tank and found the color in the leaked water so definitely from the ballast tank.

Bummer....

Just spit balling here... I wonder if you could put the boat on the trailer, drain out most of the water and then drop a few pellets of dry ice into the remaining water. That will cause a "fog machine" effect and then pressure the tank and using your scope... you might be able to see where the fog is escaping???

 

[docwells]

Photos from construction phase of h26/260 by Marlow Hunter.

How much water are you getting? A little or a lot? If just a bit place paper towel around the 1” vent seal and the ballast tank drain rod/nut under the cabin step. See if you have evidence of dye after a sail/rocking the boat.

If leaking due to a grounding I would expect the most likely location would be somewhere along the hull/tank top joint. You might be able to see evidence of damage on the hull exterior which would help you determine where to look in the interior. The hull/tank top joint is largely visible - in settees storage areas, bottom of galley and head cupboards and via access hatches under the aft berth. A borescope/endoscope can help with the inspection under the aft berth.

A quick check on the seal of the drain nut/washer/rod and vent plug can be accomplished by getting several friends aboard and having a look under the step access. This method would also assist in having a look at the rest of the tank top areas as well but you will need to work around your assistants! (Sufficient weight aboard will lower the top of the ballast tank below the exterior water line and force water through any holes/openings in the tank top or hull joint. )

rectangular object near the bottom centre of the photo with tank top in place is the piece under the cabin step with the fill/drain and vent are located.

The volume of influx water is much greater than expected. About 20 gal in 24 hours! We are going to get the boat out of the water this week.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

1. Have you removed the panel to access the bolt holding the centerboard bracket and looked in there?

2. Are there any #10 holes in base or receiver of the compression post one on front and rear about 2-3 inches above base of the compression post?

3. Time for the boat to come out to inspect the hull. This should include the hull to deck joint at the transom as there is a1/4 to 1-2 inch space between the hull and deck plates filled in with marine putty which possibly may have separated. You said the water first appeared in the bilge area. Anytime I heard that, it generally was that seal being broken and/or the lower rudder pintel/gudgeon being loose. With no one on board, the lower rudder fitting and the hull to deck joint seal are out of the water but are under water when a person is on board; thus the water intrusion started. To access the seal, I would pull the boat out, remove the rub rail starting at the port side of the transom ladder going to the starboard side and up to a point it starts to run down the starboard hull. If you should see any cracks in that seal, advise and I will explain what to do

I still have many questions to ask if you can call me back. I did respond earlier today in a private message

dave

 

[docwells]

The hull and the box containing the swing keel have been thoroughly inspected, cleaned and the keel fiberglass repaired by two marinas. We have absolutely no moisture in the stern of the boat behind the bed under the cockpit where the waist water container is located. I still believe that the hit on the trailer caused a disruption in the seal between the water ballast tank and the top.
What material is used to seal the top of the tank?

 

[dLj]

The hull and the box containing the swing keel have been thoroughly inspected, cleaned and the keel fiberglass repaired by two marinas. We have absolutely no moisture in the stern of the boat behind the bed under the cockpit where the waist water container is located. I still believe that the hit on the trailer caused a disruption in the seal between the water ballast tank and the top.
What material is used to seal the top of the tank?

Have you talked to @Crazy Dave Condon ? He's your man on this one. Just sayin....

dj

 

[rgranger]

Hey @Crazy Dave Condon

He did mention that he saw dye in the water after adding dye to the ballast tank. So I doubt it is coming from the transom.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

It was not clearly stated where the dye was seen. I was trying to find out if it was around the air vent in case of accidental spill. I told Hunter how to use the dye trick Rob

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

The top of the tank lid is laid onto marine putty with the exterior edges fiberglassed in using the correct resin and hardner after the marine putty has dried. Normally if that seal was jeopardized you should be able to detect dye from within the perimeter of the seal inside the cabin

There was reportedly damage to the swing keel or centerboard repaired twice by different Marinas is another area to explore. The fellow did say water was in the bilge area when talking with him.
With the amount of water recently reported getting into the cabin should warrant the boat being pulled out of the water for inspection. I am at a loss without further
details