I Bought A 2005 hunter 260 with the water ballast system. My seasoning for this boat was the ability to launch the boat myself and were it is docked the water empties out as to allow the boat to settle on soft mud. The first year was a non issue, But following the winter were I was careful to remove all ballast water, I started to develop leaks via the ballast. This was confirmed with die. I proceeded to repair the areas but seam to be chasing other leaks. Has any one herd of this problem before,I love the boat but am ready to cut my losses. Any input would be welcome.
Water ballast leak
- Thread starter nopressure
- Start date
It started as a small leak that I could see. I repaired it only to show up else were. This year I put the boat in and t is the worst yet. That is a continuing flow like a hole.I couldn't see were it came from. had to pull the boat. after drying out I see now sign. My fear is the fiberglass is breaking down. would love to seal it from inside the tank, but no access.
I got this from a web search. http://h260.com/leaks/H260_leaks.html
Why would you assume the "fiberglass is breaking down"? Do you sea signs of distress on or in the hull? Was the boat every dropped or really banged around?
Why would you assume the "fiberglass is breaking down"? Do you sea signs of distress on or in the hull? Was the boat every dropped or really banged around?
I was thinking this because I have repaired a spot for it to show up some were else. maybe my winters are affecting the any water in the fiberglass. I'm a bit lost I admit. Thanks for that link, I will call Eddie for his thoughts to. The boat shows no sign of hard usage. I pick it up in florida with no bottom paint on it so I could really see the hull.
What area of the boat are the leaks at?
Where did you fix the leaks?
How much dye did you add to ballast?
Where did you see the dye coming out?
Is the boat on trailer now?
Can you take photos of area of leaks?
Photos of boat sitting on trailer please
I will respond then
Where did you fix the leaks?
How much dye did you add to ballast?
Where did you see the dye coming out?
Is the boat on trailer now?
Can you take photos of area of leaks?
Photos of boat sitting on trailer please
I will respond then
The suggestion of Dave Condon is a good resource. He was a Hunter dealer for a bunch of years, among other things nautical.
As for the "Disappearing Fiberglass Blues" (or was the 'Railroad' ;^))) ) and cold weather -- forget about it.
If one left pooled water in the tank (not just some droplets), then it COULD have frozen and expanded and cracked something. Just like any pipe or plumbing fitting. Otherwise, Corvettes would only be seen in Phoenix (at low altitudes).
I suggest that you go about this systematically. You'll figure it out. If you like the boat, it should be fixable.
P.S. - Do you sail out of New Castle or Portsmouth? I'll be passing by there on my way south after the middle of August. We have always stopped at New Castle (Wentworth) for a couple of days or so.
As for the "Disappearing Fiberglass Blues" (or was the 'Railroad' ;^))) ) and cold weather -- forget about it.
If one left pooled water in the tank (not just some droplets), then it COULD have frozen and expanded and cracked something. Just like any pipe or plumbing fitting. Otherwise, Corvettes would only be seen in Phoenix (at low altitudes).
I suggest that you go about this systematically. You'll figure it out. If you like the boat, it should be fixable.
P.S. - Do you sail out of New Castle or Portsmouth? I'll be passing by there on my way south after the middle of August. We have always stopped at New Castle (Wentworth) for a couple of days or so.
Good point about the fiberglass, It didn't sound right to me either but I'm a little crazed. I sail in buzzards by on the cape out of onset. As for the boat it is now on the trailer.I have chased leaks and repaired under the galley sink on the starboard side, under the aft bed by the bilge and along the starboard side. these were easy as I could see them and they were slower. I do have to confirm were the present leak is in the water it was flowing to fast. I did use a container of food coloring the first time to confirm it was the ballast water. This may be not the case this time. I'm not at the boat now but this weekend I will. I'm thinking to fill the tank on the trailer and see if I can locate the source. I didn't think this would be an issue with the trailer. As a note I viewed in the battery area at the stern and it didn't jump out at me. thinking it may be the stern seam.
Thank for all the input from all, This has helped me with other eyes as it were and confirm or dispell my thinking.
Thank for all the input from all, This has helped me with other eyes as it were and confirm or dispell my thinking.
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Stainless, nylon, in all the shapes and sizes, replacement caps are in stock.
See the product
@nopressure
Before you do anything, at least answer my questions and submit photos. I know the boat too well as I was involved with the design, mast raise system, trailer and so on. If not, then do what you want to do but you could be chasing a lot without getting to the actual source. I ask questions so I can pinpoint what is happening. It could be several for one it could be the hull to deck joint but if you will respond instead of being bull headed, I can help you.
Before you do anything, at least answer my questions and submit photos. I know the boat too well as I was involved with the design, mast raise system, trailer and so on. If not, then do what you want to do but you could be chasing a lot without getting to the actual source. I ask questions so I can pinpoint what is happening. It could be several for one it could be the hull to deck joint but if you will respond instead of being bull headed, I can help you.
I was not trying to be bull headed. I thought I stated were the leaks were before and the die. I'm not with the boat and will not fill it with water on the trailer. I will take pics when i'm with her. I do appreciate all the input this is what i was looking for.My only thought was to try and find the new leak without putting her in the water, but this may be the only way.
Thanks
Thanks
On a somewhat related subject I had a leak earlier that I ruled out was not the tank via dye, but found it only happened when I healed over to starboard. All the thru hulls were not leaking. My local dealer suggested a couple of places- one of which was the anchor locker. It was full of water and when I heeled, the water went into the hole the slide bolt goes into and eventually it made its way back to the bilge area. I caulked the hole and emptied th locker and no more problems. The reason it filled up was I put anchor length flags on the line and one actually was sitting right on top of the drain hole!!
NO,
Hard to locate where your leaking water really comes from, and your writing tells about the understandable disappointment and frustration you are in. In such situations we tend often to see a bigger problem as is. The H260 is a quite robust boat and I can't think of something like broken down fiberglass or large crags on the ballast tank, especially since your hull appeared to be in perfect shape.
As much I followed water problems being described here, the suspicion pointed often first to the ballast tank, but on the end it was something else. Went through the same; finally I had mainly just a bad sealing rubber plug on the tank under the stair step. I had dyed the tank as well. When heeling, the water run out of the plug down in the boat and gave a wrong impression about the location of the leak, couldn't believe that simple. Some fellow H260 had (also I) small leaks on the compression post foot. As seen in my picture, I sealed around raised fiberglass against the surrounding to keep possible leaking water in both areas from running down on top of the ballast tank or into the bottom of the boat. Work out well for me, never any water issue again.
Have also a good look at all through hull connections and check if your boat has any damage an the bow/deck seal. Putting pieces of paper towels may give you some clues too. Good luck.
Hart
Hard to locate where your leaking water really comes from, and your writing tells about the understandable disappointment and frustration you are in. In such situations we tend often to see a bigger problem as is. The H260 is a quite robust boat and I can't think of something like broken down fiberglass or large crags on the ballast tank, especially since your hull appeared to be in perfect shape.
As much I followed water problems being described here, the suspicion pointed often first to the ballast tank, but on the end it was something else. Went through the same; finally I had mainly just a bad sealing rubber plug on the tank under the stair step. I had dyed the tank as well. When heeling, the water run out of the plug down in the boat and gave a wrong impression about the location of the leak, couldn't believe that simple. Some fellow H260 had (also I) small leaks on the compression post foot. As seen in my picture, I sealed around raised fiberglass against the surrounding to keep possible leaking water in both areas from running down on top of the ballast tank or into the bottom of the boat. Work out well for me, never any water issue again.
Have also a good look at all through hull connections and check if your boat has any damage an the bow/deck seal. Putting pieces of paper towels may give you some clues too. Good luck.
Hart
Attachments
Thanks all good suggestions and will delve deeper. also to crazy Dave. It is nice to know I'm not in this boat
alone.
alone.
Its a little hard to follow where the boat was during the winter.. On the trailer where you were careful to remove all the water.. or at the place where it can settle on soft mud. Settle on soft mud.. does this mean some place with tidal fluctuations in Cape Cod? Doesnt the ocean get some ice or ice over there? Any chance you had water freeze in the ballast tank over the winter? Probably not the case. but just wondering..
She on a trailer in N.H. in the winter, and on cape cod at the dock in the summer. The tide change is about five feet on average and when it's it's gone, then she sits on the mud witch is very soft.