Water in the People Tank!

[kemewag]

The water ballast on our Hunter 26 appears to be leaking in-board.

I'm in the process of replacing the lower ballast plug gasket which will take care of the continuous flow of water into / through the ballast.

Where is the next likely exit point for the water in the ballast to come into the salon? Does the centerboard pivot pin or tackle breach the ballast tank below the waterline?

How do I check it?
How can I fix it?

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Kemewag;

My personal email is davecondon@mindspring.com I will ask that you email me with your phone number if in the states or Canada. There is not enough information as yet to determine where the leak is coming from. I know this boat too well and this is a priority for me. I will need to know the year and is the boat a 26 or 260? Hull number will tell me alone what you have but basically the two are nearly the same except fo the deck and forward hatch.

Does this occur when it only rains? Is it occuring only when the boat is in the water?
That is a first determination. The second of course where is the water being seen?
Here are a few areas to check.

If in the water, check the neoprhene coated washer where to open the tank under the last step going into the boat. IF too many people on board, it can leake there if deterioriated. In addiiton, check the drain bail plug adjacent to it. Remember it can be enlargened by twisting it if that is the kind you have.

Look at the stern thru the starboard inspection in the rear berth which iwll probably require you to move the battery using a flashlight. DO you see any water coming from the lower attachement for the rudder or the hull to deck joint both of which are under water when weight is on board?

Pull the plastic plates up around the compression post which might be siliconed and or screwed in place. You will see a large bolt on top of a metal plate. First, any water coming in around the bolt head. Secondly, any water coming thru the bottom of the plate resting against the fiberglass? Look at the bottom of the compression post plate which I just referenced to and see where the compression post itself inserts into that plate/pipe. If you see a hole, then a #10 screw with silicon needs to be in place. There is one also on the front which you will have to look very hard and if there is no screw, then do the same there too..

If the water is accumlating in the front storage compartments, then possibly the hose for the anchor drain needs to be checked.

Do you have a regular head option versus porta poti?

Is the water seen on the cabin floor?

Has the boat been left in freezing water?

With these questions, it is a start to deteming what is going on. There are other scenarios but this is a start my friend. Please advise.

crazy dave condon

 

[Bob 04 H260]

Dave is the expert on these boats. You can put some food dye in the tank to see if the water is coming from it. I saw a friend use a shopvac in reverse to pressurize an empty ballast tank. Then a bit of water on the floor and some dish soap showed where the problem was quite quickly. I think someone had put a screw into it inside a cabinet. If you could get the shopvac far enough away you might even be able to hear a leak before doing the water part ?? the shopvac could then be turned around used to suck some thickened epoxy into a leak to fix it ?
good luck, Bob

 

[Dan Johnson]

Do what ever Crazy Dave suggests--he's the expert with water-ballast Hunters!

Long story short: Second water ballast H260 I sold developed a leak that flooded the cabin pan, thought to be the ballast tank. Turned out to be sealant missing around the tube that brings the centerboard pennent up through the hull. Consider that possibility also.

DAVE: Hugely funny story about using Grape Kool-Aide mixed into the ballast tank at Jim B's suggestion on how to find a possible leak there.

 

[Steve Kamp]

Inadvertently leak tested the hull on the 260 we used to own before trading it to Crazy Dave. I was filling the fresh water tank (25 gallon capacity) while the boat was trailered at home and noticed water being pumped over board by the bilge pump. Turned out the deck fitting on the bow was not connected to the tank filler neck. I had filled all of the spaces under the v berth, the settees, and the entire cabin up to about eight inches deep.
I was satisfied that the hull did not leak.