Keel Crack Assesment

[Capcadet05]

Ground away the keel today. I think we are chasing a rabbit and I am a little afraid to keep after it and grinding away. There is a crack, and it keeps snaking further back. I have half a mind to dry it out and use a heat gun for a week or so, then inject epoxy to it and glass it over with several layers. I have gutted the top of the boat so know there is no more water leaking into it from above. Attached is the picture of the keel grind. Thoughts?

[Capcadet05]

here are he pics

[sailvayu]

Once dry fill with resin and filler like chopped mill fibers and glass over. Make sure you grind back the bottom paint so that any glass you put on does not overlap it. You would be surprised how many repair failures I see because the repair overlapped bottom paint and started peeling at the edge. Run your glass about 3" on either side of the crack. Stop chasing rabbits and go sailing!

[atoll]

Originally Posted by Capcadet05

Ground away the keel today. I think we are chasing a rabbit and I am a little afraid to keep after it and grinding away. There is a crack, and it keeps snaking further back. I have half a mind to dry it out and use a heat gun for a week or so, then inject epoxy to it and glass it over with several layers. I have gutted the top of the boat so know there is no more water leaking into it from above. Attached is the picture of the keel grind. Thoughts?

fill it,glass it,use epoxy, and forget about it

[Capcadet05]

thought everyone might want a update of what it looks like. Found another hairline fracture in the middle of the keel. Not too concerned about it. 6" in length and there is no matching fracture on the other side. Think it could just be age. Also could have been where paint chipped off as I was sanding it down earlier today.