What to Fill the Ballast Voids

[bletso]

When we moved the boat a week ago on to firm paved ground the nose was down so I jacked it up and water started dripping out of the lower gudgeon. I thought I had remedied that problem years ago when I sealed it with 5200. I am now planing on enlarging the 5/8 holes to 15/16 or 1 inch and filling with epoxy chopped fiber glass and re-drilling the holes 5/8. End of that problem Now the second problem is when I opened the holes up there was about 7 gallons of water came out over 24 hrs. What can I inject the ballast area to fill the void/s? Epoxy is a bit dear and polyester resins set too fast. I think I would need 12 hrs or more dwell time. Any ideas?

Gudgeon Leak | Sailing Vessel Vigah

[atoll]

fill the holes with underwater epoxy,re-drill once set then refit the gudgeons with plenty of polyuratane /sikaflex sealant.

you can use liquid portland cement to fill keel voids

[JPA Cate]

atoll,

Thank you for that! I had forgotten that method. Some friends used cement mixed with sheep fat (tallow) to fill some holes in a keel obtained in the Red Sea, and the cement set up from the sea water as the fat leaked out! An amazing bush (Yanks, read "boondocks") repair.

Ann

[bletso]

Originally Posted by atoll

fill the holes with underwater epoxy,re-drill once set then refit the gudgeons with plenty of polyuratane /sikaflex sealant.

you can use liquid portland cement to fill keel voids

Forgot the cement route. Now the problem is finding the voids. Oh well it's only another to do. Do you prefer the Sikaflex over 5200?

[atoll]

Originally Posted by bletso

Forgot the cement route. Now the problem is finding the voids. Oh well it's only another to do. Do you prefer the Sikaflex over 5200?

either is okay,but a generic pu sealer is what i generally use,as it is half the price of sika or 3m products and just as good most hardware stores carry it as a high quality polyeurathane outdoor window frame sealer,check the label ,clean up with white spirit.

if you use liquid cement to fill the voids via the bilge,it is a good idea to epoxy/glass over any drill holes afterwards to prevent further oil/water from entering the keel ,or exiting!