How can I tell if water seeping into the bilge has infiltrated the floor and is in the hull? Can water penetrate any lower than the bilge? Where do I hook up an automatic bilge pump in this model?
- Status
P.S
Sorry it is a 23' foot 1986. Also does anyone have any design diagrams or know where they are published online?
Sorry it is a 23' foot 1986. Also does anyone have any design diagrams or know where they are published online?
Hunter 23 owners manual
Here's a link to a copy of the owners manual:
http://www.ayesail.net/sailing/Hunter/HunterManual/TableContents.html
Regarding the bilge...there is a shallow bilge under the sole of the H23. However, the access holes to it are in the area by the keel bolts. The access holes are small, probably about 1/4 or 1/2 inch. I stick a 12" length of plastic tubing into the holes and an inexpensive pump connected to a portable drill to suck out the water. I get maybe 1/2 a gallon in a month or so. I don't think you could really set up a 'real' bilge pump for this boat. If you want pictures of the location of these access holes, let me know as I am going out on Saturday.
Here's a link to a copy of the owners manual:
http://www.ayesail.net/sailing/Hunter/HunterManual/TableContents.html
Regarding the bilge...there is a shallow bilge under the sole of the H23. However, the access holes to it are in the area by the keel bolts. The access holes are small, probably about 1/4 or 1/2 inch. I stick a 12" length of plastic tubing into the holes and an inexpensive pump connected to a portable drill to suck out the water. I get maybe 1/2 a gallon in a month or so. I don't think you could really set up a 'real' bilge pump for this boat. If you want pictures of the location of these access holes, let me know as I am going out on Saturday.
It is most likely water in the bilge is coming through the deck somewhere. Also, in heavy rain the lazeret hatch will allow overflow from the cockpit seats into the bilge, more likely while on the trailer or if listing port. I installed a 500 gpm pump in the bilge just aft of the bulkhead, in the lazeret, discharging via a thru-hull. I recently overhauled my boat and filled the thru-hull and when/if reinstalling the bilge pump will discharge into the cockpit by the cockpit drain.
Thru-hulls are the #1 cause of a boat sinking. If you install a bilge pump be certain to "gooseneck" the discharge hose to prevent backflow.
I've employed the method Louis recommends and it works well enough. On the other hand, while overhauling my boat and removing bulkheads fore and aft of the sole, found 1" holes drilled in the sole insert apparently intended for drainage, but glassed over during manufacture (therefore holding water in, causing the rot that necessitated replacing the bulkhead). During reassembly I drilled these through the new bulkheads so that if I were to pour a gallon of water into the v-berth bilge it would flow under the sole and to the lazeret bilge. Go to my profile and in an album there you will find a picture of the forward bulkhead removed, exposing the forward edge of the sole, and the hole I found. You will also see some of the work I did to take care of this problem on my boat (and common to many others). I hope that any water I find in the future can be dealt with using a rag. I'll be launching soon and will report how this all worked out.
Thru-hulls are the #1 cause of a boat sinking. If you install a bilge pump be certain to "gooseneck" the discharge hose to prevent backflow.
I've employed the method Louis recommends and it works well enough. On the other hand, while overhauling my boat and removing bulkheads fore and aft of the sole, found 1" holes drilled in the sole insert apparently intended for drainage, but glassed over during manufacture (therefore holding water in, causing the rot that necessitated replacing the bulkhead). During reassembly I drilled these through the new bulkheads so that if I were to pour a gallon of water into the v-berth bilge it would flow under the sole and to the lazeret bilge. Go to my profile and in an album there you will find a picture of the forward bulkhead removed, exposing the forward edge of the sole, and the hole I found. You will also see some of the work I did to take care of this problem on my boat (and common to many others). I hope that any water I find in the future can be dealt with using a rag. I'll be launching soon and will report how this all worked out.
- Status