I bought a 1987 Hunter 23 with a wing keel. I had the boat on the trailer till February. I had to put it in the water for some maintenance reasons as it had to have a new mast, as the old one broke in half. May have been my problem but not positive. The Marina wanted it in the water to tune the mast and do a couple other things. The person I bought it from said he kept it on the trailer and launched it from the trailer. The keel bolts kind of look fairly new, they are stainless and are not very dirty. It has been in the water since January and I found water under the floor pans in all 3 compartments. I pumped it out but it did not dry, like more water was coming in. It did not seem like a great deal but enough to be annoying. Is this coming up from the keel bolts? If anyone has a clue it would be greatly appreciates. Is there any fix that can be done that is not going to cost a fortune. Each of the 3 compartments have holes that drain from one to the other. Can it go forward under the V Berth. that floor pan is screwed down. The other thing I noticed was water in the anchor locker but that I got out as there was junk in the hose.
water in keel pockets
- Thread starter teacher63
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Siskind,
There are probably 100 threads on water in the "bilge" areas of a 23 so This is a very common problem. They are most likely NOT from the keel bolts. Determine if the water is salty. If it is then it will be from 2 areas (most likely)
-First, area to check is the drain hose from the cockpit. Make sure that it is intact and not damaged.
-Second, is the Keel bolts. That would entail pulling the boat dropping the keel and reattaching it.
If the water is not salty it could be coming from multiple areas. First I'd check the lazarette. You could be having intrusion again from the cockpit drain and a faulty drain hose. Frequently, during heavy storms (like the NE has had recently) Water can spill into the lazarette from the bench opening. Other things that can leak are the Anchor locker drain hose and fittings around the hose. This is not an easy area to work in but freeze/thaw cycles can rupture the drain hose. You'll also find water in the compartments under the v berth. Chain plates are also a source of intrusion as are the windows, mast step and stanchions. Basically ANY place where a screw or bolt has been put through the deck. Probably the most obvious area is the cabin top and boards. The lexan opening is subject to age related sagging and heavy rain and wind will drive it past the edge and drip (pour) into the cabin. You'll see that many, including myself have tarps or specially fitted companionway hatch covers to guard against this water intrusion. An easy way to find out where the water is coming from is to put crepe paper or construction paper taped to the undersides of the chain plates and windows or where ever you suspect the leaking is coming from.
There is a fair amout of space under the cabin sole. Even though you drain what you see there will be at least 2 x that much that will still need to drain out.
Good luck in your search for the problem
. Just one of the joys of boat ownership.
There are probably 100 threads on water in the "bilge" areas of a 23 so This is a very common problem. They are most likely NOT from the keel bolts. Determine if the water is salty. If it is then it will be from 2 areas (most likely)
-First, area to check is the drain hose from the cockpit. Make sure that it is intact and not damaged.
-Second, is the Keel bolts. That would entail pulling the boat dropping the keel and reattaching it.
If the water is not salty it could be coming from multiple areas. First I'd check the lazarette. You could be having intrusion again from the cockpit drain and a faulty drain hose. Frequently, during heavy storms (like the NE has had recently) Water can spill into the lazarette from the bench opening. Other things that can leak are the Anchor locker drain hose and fittings around the hose. This is not an easy area to work in but freeze/thaw cycles can rupture the drain hose. You'll also find water in the compartments under the v berth. Chain plates are also a source of intrusion as are the windows, mast step and stanchions. Basically ANY place where a screw or bolt has been put through the deck. Probably the most obvious area is the cabin top and boards. The lexan opening is subject to age related sagging and heavy rain and wind will drive it past the edge and drip (pour) into the cabin. You'll see that many, including myself have tarps or specially fitted companionway hatch covers to guard against this water intrusion. An easy way to find out where the water is coming from is to put crepe paper or construction paper taped to the undersides of the chain plates and windows or where ever you suspect the leaking is coming from.
There is a fair amout of space under the cabin sole. Even though you drain what you see there will be at least 2 x that much that will still need to drain out.
Good luck in your search for the problem
. Just one of the joys of boat ownership.Similar Issue
I was actually going to say I have a similar problem. I am worried that the wood under the floor is now going to be rotted. What is under the fiberglass, is it foam?
I was actually going to say I have a similar problem. I am worried that the wood under the floor is now going to be rotted. What is under the fiberglass, is it foam?
Re: Similar Issue
It sounds like I need to get to the floor under the VBerth, this sounds like fun. I am pretty sure mine is salt water, as I am on the Chesapeake Bay. The thought of this is not good. I am not a very patient person to do the work myself and paying for the work will put my wife over the edge.
It sounds like I need to get to the floor under the VBerth, this sounds like fun. I am pretty sure mine is salt water, as I am on the Chesapeake Bay. The thought of this is not good. I am not a very patient person to do the work myself and paying for the work will put my wife over the edge.
Siskind, My rear keel bolt leaks at the rate of 4-5 drops per minute until it reaches the top of the rear keel bolt nut and then stops or equalizes. It only does it when the water is cold. This May it will stop leaking if it did like last year and I will seal it like Carboman suggested. It only took a year and a half of hunting it to figure this out. Good luck on yours. Charles
Only worry about this water
Will it or does it lead to significant hull rot? If so how can you tell?
Will it or does it lead to significant hull rot? If so how can you tell?
If you have the time and patience you can caulk the top edge of the rubrail with 4200. Pretty sure that water finds its way between the hull layers and ends up by the keel bolts.
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