We have a 1985 Hunter 31. I am continually amazed at what I learn about this boat as the days go on. I would like to share the following and seek advice at the same time. Our boat is sitting in the cradle for the winter. On the weekend, on the advice of a maring surveyor, we were making a drain hole in the bilge, which will allow the bilge to drain IF water gets in during the storage time. This hole is enlarged on the outside and a stainless sleeve is installed, then a drain plug inserted. A number of other boat owners in our marina have done this as well. However as I began to drill a small hole in an otherwise completely dry blige, water began to seep into the bilge. It was black, had an extremley bad odor and almost filled the bilge. Of course once the hole was through the hull, it drained out. We have been complaining of a bad odor in the boat for 3 years and the odor of this liquid had a striking similarity to the one complained of. The surveyor said that there is a "second" skin under the interior skin and it is this area which was filled with water and goop! We have flushed out this cavity and have put javex in of a couple of days. Has anyone else had this experience or offer some comment on what we have found. HELP!!
Water inside an "inner" skin
- Thread starter Briann
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inner outer hull
check out the pictures from 11-2-04 , there are others if you can find them in the arcives, whaere did you drill the hole?
check out the pictures from 11-2-04 , there are others if you can find them in the arcives, whaere did you drill the hole?
I pulled my float switch out of the bilge
a couple of days ago and had that smelly water bubble up from the screw hole...Very nasty indeed. What's been said here is to carefully drill holes in the lower sides of the bilge to drain this stagnate water. I have not done that yet.. I also checked under the support leg for the salon table but no water was in that which was good.. The smell level in my boat was real bad when I purchase but now is very good. Just another thing to keep on top of..
a couple of days ago and had that smelly water bubble up from the screw hole...Very nasty indeed. What's been said here is to carefully drill holes in the lower sides of the bilge to drain this stagnate water. I have not done that yet.. I also checked under the support leg for the salon table but no water was in that which was good.. The smell level in my boat was real bad when I purchase but now is very good. Just another thing to keep on top of..
jeff, where are the pics?
Yes indeed, have experienced this too. Jeff, did not see any photos posted for 11/2, can you direct me too them thanks fair winds (and dry bilges!) chris
Yes indeed, have experienced this too. Jeff, did not see any photos posted for 11/2, can you direct me too them thanks fair winds (and dry bilges!) chris
Sub-Blige compartment
Hunters of this vintage seem to have this curious compartment under the "bilge" but over the top of the keel. On my 1980 H30 the keel bolt nuts were secured in the upper bilge but the bolts ran through a space, about 10" deep into the top of the lead keel. On many boats, this space can accumulate water but there is no way to drain it unless you install a garboard drain and plug as described. Not only is the water foul, but I would think that you have to worry about freeze damage and corrosion on the keel bolts. Perhaps JCII could comment on the design?
Hunters of this vintage seem to have this curious compartment under the "bilge" but over the top of the keel. On my 1980 H30 the keel bolt nuts were secured in the upper bilge but the bolts ran through a space, about 10" deep into the top of the lead keel. On many boats, this space can accumulate water but there is no way to drain it unless you install a garboard drain and plug as described. Not only is the water foul, but I would think that you have to worry about freeze damage and corrosion on the keel bolts. Perhaps JCII could comment on the design?
reply to Jeff asc
The hole was drilled in the lowest portion of the bilge about 34" above the bottom of the bilge. The hole on the outside came out about 12" above the bottom of this second skin.
The hole was drilled in the lowest portion of the bilge about 34" above the bottom of the bilge. The hole on the outside came out about 12" above the bottom of this second skin.
Here's the picture
Here my pict, its the front wall of the bilge, hole inlarge right down to the floor of the bilge. You can see my first hole above, which most people drill. That's still to high and leaves lots of water in along with the smell.
Here my pict, its the front wall of the bilge, hole inlarge right down to the floor of the bilge. You can see my first hole above, which most people drill. That's still to high and leaves lots of water in along with the smell.
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