Keel needs fixing

[Fritzy]

Long story short. I hit an unmarked rock and took off a nice chunk of the bottom forward part of my keel. It’s made of lead and am wondering what is the best option for repair???

[Nicholson58]

Get it super dry, grind it fait and lay up epoxy and glass. We$t marine has a pretty good video or look it up on YouTube.

Be sure to check keel bolts and for cracks around the keel inside and outside

[dfelsent]

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

Get it super dry, grind it fait and lay up epoxy and glass. We$t marine has a pretty good video or look it up on YouTube.

This ^^^^
Been there. Only my rock was charted.

And double check the structure inside the hull, particularly above the aft end of the keel. A grounding pushes the bottom front back and so the top aft up.
Some boats are beefed up there for just that reason.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by dfelsent

This ^^^^
Been there. Only my rock was charted.

And double check the structure inside the hull, particularly above the aft end of the keel. A grounding pushes the bottom front back and so the top aft up.
Some boats are beefed up there for just that reason.

+1


yes, check bottom inside esp the aft part, if you hit while going forward


repair - clean with fresh water, dry, grind but leave rough, then epoxy extra thick filler and glass over


filling with glass chop and epoxy viable too - but I found ultra thick filler to flow less




b.

[tkeithlu]

+2

There was a post a few days ago of a keel that had buckled and torn the hull just aft of the keel because of a hit on the leading edge, whether charted or not.

The amount of lead lost is insignificant.

I guess that that rock is on at least your chart now. Which expletive from the sailor's kit of salty expressions did you employ in the moment just post impact?

[kenbo]

Can't argue with the thought that the weight lost is inconsequential but I guess I'm old school. I'd repair it with 80/20 body solder and a torch.

[Rucksta]

Grinding is ineffective.
The lead clogs the abrasive.
Use an electric planner.

For the ares that cant be addressed with the planner hit it with a torch until a molten skin forms then allow to cool.

Insert some SS coach screws (8 x 50 mm) to key whatever filler you decide on.

Lead is best if you are equipped and have some metal skills.

[psk125]

Agree with Barnakiel: leave it rough if you want the epoxy mix to adhere better. Smoothing will only remove more lead and possibly expose you to lead issues. We banged our keel back into shape with a sledgehammer after we hit a rock, then applied expoxygoop. K.I.S.S.

[tkeithlu]

" We banged our keel back into shape with a sledgehammer after we hit a rock, then applied expoxygoop. K.I.S.S."

I love it. All you rock finders need to move to Florida, where all you hit is sand, and at an angle so narrow that the boat lifts slightly and glides to a stop.

[Drinky Crow]

Mix lead shot into whatever you use to thicken the epoxy with.

[psk125]

Originally Posted by tkeithlu

" We banged our keel back into shape with a sledgehammer after we hit a rock, then applied expoxygoop. K.I.S.S."

I love it. All you rock finders need to move to Florida, where all you hit is sand, and at an angle so narrow that the boat lifts slightly and glides to a stop.

But Florida does not look like this:


(Deer Isle, Maine)