Water in the stern cabin - 2003 Hunter 306

[CaptainKook]

I am fairly new to sailing and purchased a 2003 Hunter 306. Going on 2 years now and couldn't be happier with the boat expect for this annoying leak!

The stern cabin gets a considerable amount of water in it after a good day of heeling. It is slowly destroying the wood panels, cushions and soft liner on the walls. I've spent hours running a hose over the boat inch by inch and can't seem to find the leak. It hardly ever rains here in SoCal so I find it hard to believe that all that water is from rain or washing the boat but I am far from an expert.

Curious if anyone with the same model has experienced this issue. Any tips or trick on how to find the leak would be appreciated!

 

[Benny17441]

Have you checked the rudder shaft seals?

 

[CaptainKook]

I have not but I will definitely give it a look.

 

[seadaddler]

I had 2001 290 with rear leak and finally found it after I took down the rear panel or bulk head rear wall just a few screws and while motoring I went below and looked while my wife motored.
The water came in as the stern moved down ward from motoring the water came in from where they at the factory missed sealing the joint where it is bolted together the top and bottom hull.
So check behind along the rub rail where the bolts hold top and bottom together and I had other places where rub rail leaked also.

Nick

 

[CaptainKook]

I had 2001 290 with rear leak and finally found it after I took down the rear panel or bulk head rear wall just a few screws and while motoring I went below and looked while my wife motored.
The water came in as the stern moved down ward from motoring the water came in from where they at the factory missed sealing the joint where it is bolted together the top and bottom hull.
So check behind along the rub rail where the bolts hold top and bottom together and I had other places where rub rail leaked also.

Nick

Thanks Nick. I did notice a little water coming in from that same area when I ran a hose but figured it wouldn't leak like that unless it was rain or from washing. Did you remove the rub rail to seal it or did you do from the inside?

I tried to remove the rubrail awhile back but stopped at the chain plate, it starting to become I lot bigger job then I expected! I was really shocked at the design though. I expected to see the top fit over the haul bet they met with 1 inch lips the jetted out at a 90 degree angle. In between the lips was about an 1/2 inch of epoxy that they then screwed the lips together through.

 

[chuckwayne]

had a similar leak in Escape on delivery - dealer used several tubes of 5200 on the inside and it's been fine since. another possible spot on that vintage is under the cockpit sole behind the steering pedastel - the panel that comes off to uncover the steering link - the cable bundle that runs down into the hull may leak. On the 356 it runs aft on the port side and enters the hull. I've seen posts on the smaller 3's too.

 

[RobChichester]

I have a 1998 Hunter 410. I had leaks into my aft cabin since I bought the boat in 2009. Two years ago, I had the heavy rub rail removed and discovered a large crack in the deck fiberglass on the port side that was obscured by the rub rail. (It may have been caused by a hard crash during docking?) I also found bubbles and voids in the fiberglass on the starboard side in nearly the same longitudinal position as the port side crack. I also replaced any suspect bolts and nuts in the hull/deck joint. Then I used 4200 to fill and close the cracks. I have NOT had any water incursion since then. I am now in the process of replacing the damaged wood on the top of locker on the starboard side. The port side has a fiberglass shelf so no significant damage there. However, there is a single seat on port side that had damaged wood support it. I repaired that last winter.

My advice is IF you have the same kind of heavy rubber rub rail as my boat, have it removed and do a thorough inspect of the hull/deck bolts and the fiberglass.

Good luck!

Capt. Rob

I am fairly new to sailing and purchased a 2003 Hunter 306. Going on 2 years now and couldn't be happier with the boat expect for this annoying leak!

The stern cabin gets a considerable amount of water in it after a good day of heeling. It is slowly destroying the wood panels, cushions and soft liner on the walls. I've spent hours running a hose over the boat inch by inch and can't seem to find the leak. It hardly ever rains here in SoCal so I find it hard to believe that all that water is from rain or washing the boat but I am far from an expert.

Curious if anyone with the same model has experienced this issue. Any tips or trick on how to find the leak would be appreciated!

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Can you take a look and see if the hull to deck joint is just aboe the water line in the transom area? Use to be a former dealer introduced the boat.

 

[matts997]

another possible spot on that vintage is under the cockpit sole behind the steering pedastel - the panel that comes off to uncover the steering link - the cable bundle that runs down into the hull may leak.

I have had for quite sometime a fresh water leak behind the aft bulkhead in my '96 H280 that I'm certain is rain water coming in from the cockpit. The leak runs down the rudder post and eventually accumulates behind the engine under the dripless shaft seal, making its way to the bilge--so not a huge problem, but it contributes to dampness/mold in the compartment behind the aft sleeping quarters.

Thanks to chuckwayne's post in this thread, today I removed the the cockpit panel covering the steering linkage, let a hose run for awhile and sure enough, this reproduced the leak--clearly coming through the cable bundle. (Thanks Chuck!)

Question: What's the best product to use around the cable bundle to seal this?

Thanks, Matt

 

[Ken13559]

I suppose your cable bundle enters horizontally. Mine does. I stick a plastic piece over the entry which act like a shed. Plus added mastic as best to cable/entry to seal as much gap.

Ken Y