Hey I just got a 1986 Hunter 23 and as I was cleaning it up I noticed that when I pumped the all of the water out of the bilge there was still one of the holes that leaked water into the compartments. So I kept pumping and pumping and it just kept coming but it never got deeper than a couple of inches if I just let it sit. As soon as I pumped it out though it would start flowing again. After I kept pumping water out for over an hour and watched it fill back up I gave up and decided to ask for advice. One friend told me I might have a leak somewhere in the hull or something but I thought that if I had a leak like that the water would just keep flowing in until the boat sank. I let it sit for a few days now and the water is still only a couple inches deep and its not coming in anymore.
Water in the Bilge
- Thread starter jellyman3214
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how and with what did you pump it out? That matters as if you are using a bilge pump to a hose overboard, it could simply be the residual water remaining in the hose flowing back to the pump after it shuts off
i used a hand pump and pumped it into a bucket then poured it overboard. i know some of the water from the hand pump went back into the bilge but you can see the water flowing in through 1 of the holes in the bottom of the bilge
The fact that its only a few inches suggests that its rain water that came in through a leak in your deck, and got between the hull and the pan. I am assuming from your description that the bilge area under the floor boards in the main cabin. We experienced something similar, though not to the extent you describe, sponged up the water until it stopped.
Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo
Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo
No as I clearly stated earlier, you can see the water coming in through one of the holes in the bilge. I get all the water out of the bilge then you can see a little stream of water come through a hole. I get all the water out again, then you see a little stream of water come through a hole. Over and over again for well over and hour. All of the lockers and everything is dry. The bilge continues to have 1"-2" (inches) of water fill it back up everytime, but it never gets any deeper than that. There is no rain water, there is backflow from the pump. I dont know the hydrodynamics of a leak but it seems like if there was a leak in the hull, water would keep coming in until it sinks.
If it's salty, you're sinking (or you just re-named your boat).
Can you better describe or photograph the location of the holes?
You will probably find all kinds of stuff on this topic in the archives.
Can you better describe or photograph the location of the holes?
You will probably find all kinds of stuff on this topic in the archives.
Sounds like water seeking it's own level.
I'd pull the boat let it drain then fill the bilge with water and see where the water goes.
I'd pull the boat let it drain then fill the bilge with water and see where the water goes.
Ok, I was being a bit lighthearted toward your dillemma; this can be very frustrating. If the water in your bilge tastes very salty, it is likely seawater and coming through the hull. That is most common during heavy sailing, while heeling 30` putting the rail under so water comes through the deck joint. Of course it can come through the keel bolts, but it doesn't sound like it from what you've posted.
Rainwater intrusion will taste somewhat salty if you've had any saltwater intrusion but dilutes risidual salt over time as it accumulates and you remove it.
Part of a boat renaming ceremony involves having a virgin pee in your bilge...I can't really tell you what that tastes like. Your boat's name freshly painted might be a hint...
I ask the location and size of the holes you are trying to drain through since the previous owner of my boat had drilled some holes to access the areas under the sole pan. I recently replaced the forward and aft bulkheads that go up against their associated edges of the pan and found the holes drilled in the pan during manufacture were glassed over when the pan was installed. I have 1" holes I bored through after the repair to allow free flow.
Once you determine the cause of this you can take appropriate action, if any, but at least be at ease with understanding if this is much of a problem.
Rainwater intrusion will taste somewhat salty if you've had any saltwater intrusion but dilutes risidual salt over time as it accumulates and you remove it.
Part of a boat renaming ceremony involves having a virgin pee in your bilge...I can't really tell you what that tastes like. Your boat's name freshly painted might be a hint...
I ask the location and size of the holes you are trying to drain through since the previous owner of my boat had drilled some holes to access the areas under the sole pan. I recently replaced the forward and aft bulkheads that go up against their associated edges of the pan and found the holes drilled in the pan during manufacture were glassed over when the pan was installed. I have 1" holes I bored through after the repair to allow free flow.
Once you determine the cause of this you can take appropriate action, if any, but at least be at ease with understanding if this is much of a problem.
Jellyman,
My H23 has an ocasional leak that comes from the area under the v-berth and slowly seems to find its way back to the "bilge" under the floor boards. I can imagine that if there is a lot of water there, then it can just keep draining out. Also there can be water from the anchor locker all the way up into the front V area of the boat. The water I have found there, seems to stay there until I spunge it out. Once when one of my windows was leaking, there was a lot (a quart) of water at the bottom of the storage lockers on the port side. Again I don't think there is a way for water there to get to the "bilge", but my H23 seems to have quite a few little weep holes that would allow water to keep finding a lower place to go. As I explore my boat, I ocasionally find one that I did not know about. Maybe your water is coming from one of these other areas. Good Luck. In my opinion, the H23 is a very well built boat that is fun to own and sail.
My H23 has an ocasional leak that comes from the area under the v-berth and slowly seems to find its way back to the "bilge" under the floor boards. I can imagine that if there is a lot of water there, then it can just keep draining out. Also there can be water from the anchor locker all the way up into the front V area of the boat. The water I have found there, seems to stay there until I spunge it out. Once when one of my windows was leaking, there was a lot (a quart) of water at the bottom of the storage lockers on the port side. Again I don't think there is a way for water there to get to the "bilge", but my H23 seems to have quite a few little weep holes that would allow water to keep finding a lower place to go. As I explore my boat, I ocasionally find one that I did not know about. Maybe your water is coming from one of these other areas. Good Luck. In my opinion, the H23 is a very well built boat that is fun to own and sail.
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