keel damage

[Stef]

Well, the inevitable happened, I hit a rock! It was right on a tack and we were moving slowly, rock was also round so the keel was pushed up until we were over it, then it dropped back down. Rudder never touched. I pulled Odyssey out last weekend and the damage appears to be minor, a small section on the bottom leading edge is damaged, about the size of a golf ball. What the best material to repair? I was thinking Interlux Watertite Epoxy and cover with a couple of layers of glass.

[dave]

Stef, sorry to hear about the grounding. That will work, but here's a [pro] tip that not many folks know and the epoxy makers don't [usually] tell you; If you use an epoxy based filler you should also use an epoxy or vinylester resin over the filler. Polyester resin does not like to cure next to epoxy, which means it's doesn't like to bond to epoxy either. Even if it seems to have cured well the bond is always suspect. I know some people do it but I wouldn't. Also, fiberglass mat will work with Vinylester but not epoxy. The sizing that holds the chopped strands together in fiberglass mat isn't desolved by epoxy. You wind up with a hopeless glop of sticky junk that won't wet out and REALLY won't lay down on a curved surface! That doesn't mean that I'm recommending mat, just a warning. The absolute most important thing is to make sure that the area is dry and to grind a 2"-3" bevel in the original glass around the repair so that you get a good bond. While your down there and itching anyway, you might want to run a strip of glass all along the bottom of the keel. I have yet to see one that isn't cracked to coming apart. It might save you some problems down the road.

Dave

[tpf]

Stef,
I think most epoxy based materials will work for the repair, the real key is prep. I refinished my keel a few years ago using West epoxy and was very happy with the results. West system also has a pretty ggod repair manual that will walk you through the repair.

I liked West Epoxy because the pump system was convenient for mixing up small batches for repair type work. They also have various fillers for the type of repair. For Keel work they have a microfiber filler that is the strongest. It is a little harder to sand but I think the extra strength is important for the keel.

If you did damage at the bottom you should take a look at the top also. One of the common occurances in a 7.9 is the keel swings back and the back top of the keel gets a shark bite where the keel hits the back of the trunk.

Terry
Cold Duck
100

[Tim Bosma]

Stef,
Also check the lower opening of the trunk. We touched a sandbar a few years back at about 6kts, and while the damage to the board was minimal, the trunk opening was hurt bad.
Thanks,

[Pete]

Stef, try visiting the West System website. Just about everything you might need to know is there if you take the time to hunt it out.

http://www.westsystem.com/

[Gerry Connolly]

I also grounded, hard on a rock behind Pictou Island in the Northumberland Straight. Took quite a chunk out of the forward bottom part of the center board (right to the lead) and also sustained the "shark bite" on the upper rear part of the board, where it enters the trunk. I think I should pull the board and do a thorough job on repairing the damage. Any tips about getting the board out and down on the ground? Boat is on a cradle and is petty high up. Also, I had salt water in the bilge (three buckets or so). The only place I can imagine intrusion is the centerboard trunk or where the tranducers go through the hull. Your thoughts and suggestions please.

[tpf]

I faired and finished my keel several years ago. The Marina used a fork lift with an extension boom to pull the keel out through the top of the boat. They loaded it on pick up truck to get it home. They charged $50 to pull it and $50 to put it back.

When it I got it home I used a chain hoist on the tree to lift it up and lower it onto a hand truck. I used a hand truck to move it around and flip it for working on both sides.

In general it went pretty well. While I had the keel out I made plexiglass templates a faired the keel to factory specification shape. I epoxy coated, inked and longboarded it to fair the keel.

[Tim Bosma]

I also grounded, hard on a rock behind Pictou Island in the Northumberland Straight. Took quite a chunk out of the forward bottom part of the center board (right to the lead) and also sustained the "shark bite" on the upper rear part of the board, where it enters the trunk. I think I should pull the board and do a thorough job on repairing the damage. Any tips about getting the board out and down on the ground? Boat is on a cradle and is petty high up. Also, I had salt water in the bilge (three buckets or so). The only place I can imagine intrusion is the centerboard trunk or where the tranducers go through the hull. Your thoughts and suggestions please.

Right up where the "shark bite" is there is most likely damage to the hull causing a leak.