After sailing my H26 for 3 seasons, and never having a drop of water in the bilge, we suddenly (during a week-long stay on Lake Mead, NV over New Years) noticed water in the bilge and under the settees. Took the boat out again this weekend and everything stayed dry. I'm beginning to think the air plug for the ballast tank got left out during our Lake Mead trip! Anyway, having everything under the settees get soaked was not fun. Has anyone glassed in the forward parts of the port and starboard settees so that if the boat does take on water, the settees will stay dry? I can't think of any reason that wouldn't work, but maybe I'm overlooking something. Jim Schaff s/v Morning Glory
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Rick Webb
Good Idea...
... but I wonder if glassing in dams 2 or 3 inches high to keep the water to keep the water isolated to a point if any does get in. That way if there were a significant leak it might keep the boat flatter in the water. If one were to do this perhaps an additional bilge pump might be in order.
... but I wonder if glassing in dams 2 or 3 inches high to keep the water to keep the water isolated to a point if any does get in. That way if there were a significant leak it might keep the boat flatter in the water. If one were to do this perhaps an additional bilge pump might be in order.
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Joe Baker
Sealant
I sealed around the ballast riser in the bottom step so that leakage around the valve threads or spillage from the vent hole cannot run into the bilge area. Since then its been as dry as an Arizona bone!!!! Ramp steepness, boat loads, ballast level and heel angle seemed to cause the problem of water under the settees.
I sealed around the ballast riser in the bottom step so that leakage around the valve threads or spillage from the vent hole cannot run into the bilge area. Since then its been as dry as an Arizona bone!!!! Ramp steepness, boat loads, ballast level and heel angle seemed to cause the problem of water under the settees.
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Roy Culp
Bilge drain hose
How far were you heeled to starboard before noticing water under settees? I had a similar problem and found the water coming back thru the bilge thru hull drain. Make sure the tubing has about 6" upward loop just before the thru lull drain. On my 1994 h29 the bilge thru hull drain is on the starboard side low enough to allow water to enter when heeling 35 degrees or so. The 6" loop should keep the drain tube above water line.
How far were you heeled to starboard before noticing water under settees? I had a similar problem and found the water coming back thru the bilge thru hull drain. Make sure the tubing has about 6" upward loop just before the thru lull drain. On my 1994 h29 the bilge thru hull drain is on the starboard side low enough to allow water to enter when heeling 35 degrees or so. The 6" loop should keep the drain tube above water line.
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Dave Condon
Pesky water not good to drink
Need to check where the water came from. Suggest that you make sure the drain plug is tight for the air vent under the step. Check the wing nut washer to make sure the gasket underneath is still good. If not, replace with a new gasket between washer and the fiberglass. Also, look under the compression post plate inside to check the intregity of the sealant. S[pecifcally, the metal plate with the big bolt. Crazy dave
Need to check where the water came from. Suggest that you make sure the drain plug is tight for the air vent under the step. Check the wing nut washer to make sure the gasket underneath is still good. If not, replace with a new gasket between washer and the fiberglass. Also, look under the compression post plate inside to check the intregity of the sealant. S[pecifcally, the metal plate with the big bolt. Crazy dave
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Jim Schaff
Good Responses!
Thanks guys, for all your responses and ideas! I never though about sealing around the ballast riser -- that would contain any spillage to the area under the step and if that filled up and spilled over, it wouldn't be hard to see where it was coming from. I checked the sink drains but I never thought to check the bilge drain hole. When I took a look at that, there is definitely a possibility that water could have been coming into the boat thru that drain. We were heeled over, for a long time, far enough so water could have been coming in through that drain. I'll have to check that further. I did check where the compression post meets the fiberglass and everything in there seems to be fine. When we took the boat our for a test to find out where water was coming in, we stuffed paper towels in that area and they all came out dry. The washer under the wing nut is another thing I haven't checked -- but I will! With all the good hints of things to look for, I bet I'll once again be sailing a dry boat! Thanks Jim Schaff s/v Morning Glory
Thanks guys, for all your responses and ideas! I never though about sealing around the ballast riser -- that would contain any spillage to the area under the step and if that filled up and spilled over, it wouldn't be hard to see where it was coming from. I checked the sink drains but I never thought to check the bilge drain hole. When I took a look at that, there is definitely a possibility that water could have been coming into the boat thru that drain. We were heeled over, for a long time, far enough so water could have been coming in through that drain. I'll have to check that further. I did check where the compression post meets the fiberglass and everything in there seems to be fine. When we took the boat our for a test to find out where water was coming in, we stuffed paper towels in that area and they all came out dry. The washer under the wing nut is another thing I haven't checked -- but I will! With all the good hints of things to look for, I bet I'll once again be sailing a dry boat! Thanks Jim Schaff s/v Morning Glory
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Bill Coleman
dirty water
I searched for years for this answer, next time you pull your boat from the water, lift your step up and watch what happens as your boat is pulled from the water. I have come up with two solutions for this, first when you put it on the trailer pull forward about one foot then release the ballast, second and my favorite, get a small 12 volt tire air pump and a rubber stopper with a hole put the stopper on the nozzel and replace your vent plug with it. open your ballast drain and blow it all out. then load your trailer and pull it out.
I searched for years for this answer, next time you pull your boat from the water, lift your step up and watch what happens as your boat is pulled from the water. I have come up with two solutions for this, first when you put it on the trailer pull forward about one foot then release the ballast, second and my favorite, get a small 12 volt tire air pump and a rubber stopper with a hole put the stopper on the nozzel and replace your vent plug with it. open your ballast drain and blow it all out. then load your trailer and pull it out.
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