I purchased a 1986 Hunter 23 last year. It was in great shape and I had new undercoat and other maintenace work done to it. The previous owner had told me the only problem was some water in the three floor plates (where the keel bolts/nuts are). I had a great first season with this boat...but the water was ever present under the removeable floor plates. Since the boat came with no manual...and see there are practically no sailboats on my lake I have little source to turn for help. There are no dealers around here and I have written to Snug Harbor in Atlanta but there is no interest there. Does anyone under that particular Hunter and why I am taking on water. It generally does not get above the top of the three 'wells'. There is also a good bit of water sloshing around under the cockpit... As a result of the water there is a very foul odor in the cabin...making it impossible to go out for a night. The water is NOT coming from leaky windows, etc. It pours in from the holes on either side of the well. And when I try to bilge it out it fills right back up... I am assuming that the boat is keel ballasted and so I am puzzled as to where it comes from...unless it is the open hole at the water line at the very back of the boat...this seems to drain the cockpit after a rain or a washdown. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I just don't understand this part of my boat. Saler, Douglas Lake, Dandridge, TN
Water in Cabin
- Thread starter Saler
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Probably your Cockpit Drain
Saler, Hunter 23's are notorious for Cockpit drain leaks. If you open your port Lazzerate (locker) door that exposes your battery, you'll see a hose that connects the cockpit srain with the discharge outlet. Replace the hose, seal it with some "life Seal" cauking one each side and double clamp it with hose clamps. The other leak in that area might the the gungeon fitting (lower block that holds the tiller in place). That also tends to leak. I have an 85' H23 and I was always battling leaks before I sealed these areas. Search the archives for additional info. Good Luck, /Chuck S/V Windsongs H23
Saler, Hunter 23's are notorious for Cockpit drain leaks. If you open your port Lazzerate (locker) door that exposes your battery, you'll see a hose that connects the cockpit srain with the discharge outlet. Replace the hose, seal it with some "life Seal" cauking one each side and double clamp it with hose clamps. The other leak in that area might the the gungeon fitting (lower block that holds the tiller in place). That also tends to leak. I have an 85' H23 and I was always battling leaks before I sealed these areas. Search the archives for additional info. Good Luck, /Chuck S/V Windsongs H23
A cordless drill
If you check for leaks from the cockpit drain and rudder fittings and find the area dry, your leaks may be coming from the topside fittings and/or rubrail. I have an '86 and found that the through hull cockpit drain fitting was cracked but the hose was good. Replaced that and no more water. I also had some water under the floor boards. I used a cordless drill and one of those small drill mounted pumps to remove the water. Using a hose placed through the small weep holes under the floor boards, I was able to remove about 4 gallons of water. This won't solve the problem but it will allow me to remove any more water that collects until I have the boat back on the hard where I can work on problem areas.
If you check for leaks from the cockpit drain and rudder fittings and find the area dry, your leaks may be coming from the topside fittings and/or rubrail. I have an '86 and found that the through hull cockpit drain fitting was cracked but the hose was good. Replaced that and no more water. I also had some water under the floor boards. I used a cordless drill and one of those small drill mounted pumps to remove the water. Using a hose placed through the small weep holes under the floor boards, I was able to remove about 4 gallons of water. This won't solve the problem but it will allow me to remove any more water that collects until I have the boat back on the hard where I can work on problem areas.
Drying the bilge
Everything Chuck said is right and should be your 1st priority. My cockpit drain hose split over the winter and I was amazed how even a fairly light rain would cause gallons of water to flow into the space between the cabin sole and the outer hull. To get all the water out, I enlarged one of the weep holes that empty into the keel bolt bilge (the aft of the 3 sections is the one I used). I guess I made it about 3/8" diameter. Then, I duct taped a small flexible hose to a shop vac and fed it down the hole. After much fussing and blind adjusting the position of the hose while vacuuming, all the water was pulled out. Boat went in Monday and I spend most of yesterday afternoon and evening on it - the bilge is bone dry.
Everything Chuck said is right and should be your 1st priority. My cockpit drain hose split over the winter and I was amazed how even a fairly light rain would cause gallons of water to flow into the space between the cabin sole and the outer hull. To get all the water out, I enlarged one of the weep holes that empty into the keel bolt bilge (the aft of the 3 sections is the one I used). I guess I made it about 3/8" diameter. Then, I duct taped a small flexible hose to a shop vac and fed it down the hole. After much fussing and blind adjusting the position of the hose while vacuuming, all the water was pulled out. Boat went in Monday and I spend most of yesterday afternoon and evening on it - the bilge is bone dry.
Same problem different model
Do 25's have the same tendency (1978 model)? I am bedeviled by the same condition.
Do 25's have the same tendency (1978 model)? I am bedeviled by the same condition.
Sounds like the leak is in the cockpit area
From your discription the leak is in the cockpit area. You need to first get the water out. Then determine if it leaks without rain or with rain. I understand you can use powder under any suspect areas to see if they leak when it rains. Then you need to check all the screws in hinges to see if that is where the leak is comming from, if it is a rain leak. You have had other good suggestions. I have the hunter 25 model and so far I have found only the water filler cap leaking. It suppose to have an O ring and mine did not. Sailing on the port tack with water in the tank produced water in the bilge. Another area on the 25 that can leak is around the rudder post. Still checking mine for leaks there.
From your discription the leak is in the cockpit area. You need to first get the water out. Then determine if it leaks without rain or with rain. I understand you can use powder under any suspect areas to see if they leak when it rains. Then you need to check all the screws in hinges to see if that is where the leak is comming from, if it is a rain leak. You have had other good suggestions. I have the hunter 25 model and so far I have found only the water filler cap leaking. It suppose to have an O ring and mine did not. Sailing on the port tack with water in the tank produced water in the bilge. Another area on the 25 that can leak is around the rudder post. Still checking mine for leaks there.
Leaks
Saler you have some great advice from all who posted . In the event that you check the things mentioned and still dont find the leak you might want to check your anchor locker drain hose . I had a small split in mine and it was leaking there . Mike
Saler you have some great advice from all who posted . In the event that you check the things mentioned and still dont find the leak you might want to check your anchor locker drain hose . I had a small split in mine and it was leaking there . Mike
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