Really Really Bad Hunter Smile :(

Don Lucas · May 28, 2014

that isn't a smile, that's what your mouth looks like after getting hit in the face with a baseball bat

seadaddler · May 28, 2014

What the hell

What did you hit

I would consult with a expert who will know what to do to repair it,I would get
a few experts look and see what they would do.
Nick

Allan12210 · May 28, 2014

Wow, looks like it was tangled around a mooring chain for about a month. After consulting with an expert (if there is such a thing) I'd fill it with concrete and after grinding it fair, epoxy coat the entire thing. Maybe your's won't be nose heavy like mine is. You could always bolt or weld another inch of steel plate on the bottom to make up for some of the lost metal, even though its probably less than a percent of the total weight.

Sailgunner · May 28, 2014

I have never seen fiberglass on a keel. Someone may have done some kind of a repair on the keel in the past. Is it an iron or lead keel?

You might try contacting Hunter and ask them what the keel is, did they wrap it in fiberglass, and what repair they would recommend. I just visited their plant last week and met with Greg Emerson. He might be able to help. 386-462-3629. gregemerson@marlow-hunter.com

kloudie1 · May 29, 2014

Wow.. looks like damage one would see from a storm where the boat was pushing up against a steel cable in the water. I'd want to inspect the notch in the cast iron carefully for any developing crack under the leading edge. The damage looks well rounded but if ya see a crack beginning, it would have to be ground out and radius'ed .. If no crack, then blasted or wire brushed to bare metal then primed immediately with Interprotect or coal tar epoxy. Once the corrosion is mitigated then fill and fair back in. Then cover with a few bands of glass cloth using epoxy to keep everything in place and waterproof the site..
It may be possible to build a reinforced clay mold around the site and, after grit blasting to bare metal, pour melted lead into the gap.. then fair and glass wrap .. This is one I'd not try myself.. but ya might find a foundryman around who'd do it.

splax · May 29, 2014

It looks like you snagged a cable and the boat worked against that cable for some time, or maybe at a mooring. I would make sure that the keel bolts are correctly torqued, fill and epoxy seal, then fair and paint. The gap between the hull and keel appears to have been filled and faired previously, so perhaps there was previous damage. This will not be a quick repair, filling a gap like that is a pain. Good luck with that.

Steve Walsh · May 29, 2014

Is it possible the original keel installation did not a good mate between the two surfaces, the irregular gap was filled with something and now you have discovered it? I think there would be taper marks pointing aft if a cable, heavy line or chain had caused this.

splax · May 29, 2014

Steve Walsh-Is it possible the original keel installation did not a good mate between the two surfaces, the irregular gap was filled with something and now you have discovered it? I think there would be taper marks pointing aft if a cable, heavy line or chain had caused this.

Steve,
I think you are seeing taper marks, but the material broke away rather than adhering to give that smooth gradient. Notice the wear/discoloration at the edge of the damaged area.

Chief RA · May 29, 2014

Whatever fill you use will most definitely benefit if you rough up that smooth cable inset. This could lead to another repair failure if it doesn't adhere properly. Chief

Steve Dion · May 29, 2014

Do you have insurance on this boat? If so, I would have your insurance co. look at it.

splax · May 29, 2014

I like the idea of fiber laced cement, maybe some West System or FORTA-FERRO fibers added to the cement? Also, I had good success with the West System two part epoxy that comes in the caulk tubes to fill some smaller gaps. It looks cost prohibitive, but works out about the same as mixing your own, but with less mess. Be sure to use a fiber mesh to hold it in place wile it cures or resign your self to being there pushing it back into place for 30 minutes, a thankless task.

Allan12210 · May 29, 2014

splax said:
I like the idea of fiber laced cement, maybe some West System or FORTA-FERRO fibers added to the cement? Also, I had good success with the West System two part epoxy that comes in the caulk tubes to fill some smaller gaps. It looks cost prohibitive, but works out about the same as mixing your own, but with less mess. Be sure to use a fiber mesh to hold it in place wile it cures or resign your self to being there pushing it back into place for 30 minutes, a thankless task.

Any epoxy in that amount will exotherm like crazy and either burn or completely crack to pieces. There is a stucco mix with chopped glass fibers that can work well. You could even mix in lead shot to regain some of the weight.

In my case to get rid of the smile my wife and put a couple of layers of glass cloth over the cleaned surface and then some coats of barrier coat to seal it all up. There has been no more smile so the keel (in that area) is well sealed.

seadaddler · May 29, 2014

Repair

I think it must have been repaired a long time ago and maybe they did a good job at the time for some reason it did not last so maybe you can find some one who has experience with this kind of repair,maybe the yard can help you with the right guy.
I would not want to rush the repair the wrong way and find out after all your work was not good and doesn't last very long.
Nick

Don Lucas · May 30, 2014

Well I'm going to take a different position, I think you should get rid of that boat!

If you aren't going to do that you need to drop the keel, repair the stub, fair the keel properly, replace the keel bolts, reinstall, then maybe even fiberglass the assembly.

seadaddler · May 30, 2014

Disagree

Well from what I can see it is not as bad as could be and the Keel looks like it is
well mounted to the hull for sure and no cracks around where it is bolted to Hull.
I will go with a anchor chain wrapped around it and after maybe from a storm or
long time it was left to get like it is.
Call Hunter Customer service Eddie Breeden and find out what the keel was made of and than search to see what should be best possible repair.
It's Hot summer time and best time to leave on hard while you do your research.
Good Luck and maybe one day when in the area I will stop by and say hello.
Is the boat in Safe Cove yard,tuesday's I bicycle in Rotondo and ride past that yard.
Nick

splax · May 31, 2014

repair clarification

Allan12210 said:
Any epoxy in that amount will exotherm like crazy and either burn or completely crack to pieces. There is a stucco mix with chopped glass fibers that can work well. You could even mix in lead shot to regain some of the weight.

In my case to get rid of the smile my wife and put a couple of layers of glass cloth over the cleaned surface and then some coats of barrier coat to seal it all up. There has been no more smile so the keel (in that area) is well sealed.

Allan,
You are right about the huge heat generation if one tried to fill that cavity with epoxy. Notice that I said that I had success with the epoxy on smaller gaps, implied layering by saying it would not be a quick repair, and concurred on the use of concrete for the void fill. Sorry if it seemed as if I was suggesting using the epoxy for the entire repair. I was instead suggesting using the epoxy for fairing the surface of the concrete fill after it had cured.

Really Really Bad Hunter Smile :(

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