hunter 26

whiteH20 sailor · #1 (**permalink**) 07-26-2002

I am looking into a hunter 26 (water ballast) as a liveaboard, and was wondering what anyone could tell me about them.

Thanks

Josh

Jeff_H · #2 (**permalink**) 07-26-2002

A water ballasted boat would not fall on my list of potential liveabards. The problem with water ballast boats are that they are really intended to be trailered and not continuously left in the water. Over time algae and other marine growth build up in the tanks over time and they can really produce a foul odor as well as damage the tank filling and emptying mechanisms.

Jeff

sehopkins · #3 (**permalink**) 07-30-2002

I can attest to Jeff''s statement. This year we decided to put our H26 in a slip from April to November to save launching and retrieving time. We hauled it after 6 weeks to do some work on it, emptied the ballast tank, and whew, what a stink. We do not, however, smell anything while being aboard the boat in the water. One proposed solution is to fill your ballast tank with fresh water if at all possible. Avoid adding chlorine bleach since the rod attached to the tank plug on the bottom of the boat is stainless steel.

Otherwise, this is a remarkably comfortable boat for its size and living on it is feasible. But would I want to? No way. I would, however, strongly prefer it to a tent or a bad neighborhood.