Things that go Bump!!!

[Charlie]

Well its time to confess. While delivering my Sceptre 41 a couple months ago I hit a rock in Canoe Cove BC off the customs dock. I didn't think I hit it that hard and was able to get right off. Never looked at it that closely. Had a diver look at it yesterday and found that he could see the lead in the keel. Don't know how much. Diver said that it was lead enclosed in fiberglass. No leaks in the bilge. When I studied the chart more closely-- afterward. I saw the rock under the letters that spelled out Canoe Cove. My fault. Can't duck that.

Anyway it has been like this for a couple of months and I'm scheduled to sail the boat for a couple of weeks starting on Sunday or Monday but am concerned about whether it needs to be fixed today or whether we can wait till I'm back from two weeks of cruisng. Any comments?

[Alan Wheeler]

Well on one hand, I suppose if it has been like it for two months, a couple more weeks won't do any more harm.
I doubt you will get water in the bilge, I am assuming this is a seperate bolted to hull Keel?? The only issue would be water getting inbetween the glass laminate and lead. The lead ain't going to rust however, so the only issue is the water itself.
On the other hand, is the keel connection and seal to the hull OK. That would be more criticle IMO. I suspect it will be, they can take a fair thumping, but the keel bolts would be the place of greater concern. Look for cracks around the joint area. Short term it ain't going to cause to much of an issue, but long term it will y eating away the keel bolts.
However, I don't know the Sceptre, so someone else that does may have different and more accurate advice on this.

[delmarrey]

They do make a two part epoxy clay that can be install underwater. Just for safety sake you could put that over the spot until you get back, then take care if it then.

[jemsea]

Charlie,

The keel is lead but not encased in fiberglass. At least this is the configuration on our Sceptre. I would speculate that the diver saw lead encased in a barrier coat/coats of bottom paint.

Should be no problem to fair out and repaint next time you haul.

Best,

John

[Charlie]

Thank you all.

Wheels:

Sceptre has a low aspect ratio keel with a long shoe on the bottom of the hull. One of the reasons I bought the boat was because of the strong keel connection. I will check the Keel bolts carefully though.

Del:

I'll check with the builder and find out if it is glass or fairing compound

John:

Thanks for the insight. I'll confirm with Jeff.

[ssullivan]

I'd second Del's approach (as well as doing everything Wheels said). There are a good number of epoxies out there now that set underwater. I even saw one made by Locktite in Home Depot! Any marine store will carry one.

If there is indeed no fiberglass and it's just painted lead, no worries except the attachment points, as Wheels pointed out.

[CSY Man]

I have been known to touch the bottom now and then:

Therefore built a sacrificial shoe under the keel a few years ago.
Glassmat and epoxy, about an inch thick or so.

Last year I did a boo-boo and got stuch on a rock for 5 hours or so untill the tide got me off.

The shoe under the keel did its job, but died protecting it..

Have to repair that sacrificial shoe on the next haul-out, does not look pretty, but not a scratch on the original keel..

Perhaps going overboard with modifications on the boat, but protecting it from the owner..

[Alan Wheeler]

CSY, for your sacrificial area, try using epoxy carborundum and glass. The carbo maybe a little to thick to wet the glass, so just wet it a little with epoxy resin and lay on two or three alternating layers of glass/carbo/glass/carbo. The stuff becomes litteraly as hard if not harder than rock and is brilliant at protecting from wear like that.
I have always found it quite astonishing as to how much abuse a bolt on keel can atually take, when you think of the mass it has and the so few bolts there are that hold it on and often that the bolts are bronze which is not as strong as HT steel or SST. All in all, the keels tend to withstand a fair ole hammering.

[CSY Man]

try using epoxy carborundum and glass.

Good idea, will try that next time.

My keel is all fiberglass with encapsulated concrete, therefore the "shoe".

(Is that spelled right: Encapsulated...?)

[Celestialsailor]

Charlie...I think underwater epoxy is a poor fix, as you would be sealing water under the fiber-glass. At least have a travel-lift hold you in the slings overnight to do a beter job and inspection...Aloha

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Charlie,

My opinion is that you can leave it for two weeks and take care of it when you get back.

Regards,
JohnL

[Capct]

that would be my vote.Anytime you nail a rock ,an inspection out of the water is crucial.Going out for a few weeks with a suspect amount of water in the keel would not be prudent.It might be nothing , It might be a disaster, but for a couple of hundred bucks you get to find out.

[Connemara]

Originally Posted by CSY Man

Good idea, will try that next time.

My keel is all fiberglass with encapsulated concrete, therefore the "shoe".

(Is that spelled right: Encapsulated...?)

yes.

Tried to just answer 'yes' but got told the message was too short. Who ever heard of a too-short message?

(One more sleep until launch. yay!)