Hello folks, new here.
I have recently aquired a 1982 23 for a song. It has immense potential and is undergoing a lot of work atm. Bulkheads, new transom structure and backing plates, gel coat work etc.
The main issue and reason for its near free price is water intrusion and the resulting freezing and cracking of the encapsulated keel. The keel has been drilled, drained, vacuum pumped and dried for a season. Forced acetone wash and fill is soon to come. The main issue i am having is the expansion cracks (in laminate) are in the keel stub trunk. A repair up to par is near impossible 14 inches up a 2 inch wide slot.
This leads me to the bulk of this post. I am considering eliminating the centerboard and extending the keel stub. The slot would be filled and glassed flat. An additional 12 inches of keel would be formed out of 8lb foam churned with leadshot and following the original 58 degree sweep, taper, and rough foil shape, while trying to improve aspect ratio over the upper portion. This would be bonded to the existing filled keel stub, and heavily glassed over including 16 outward of keel/hull attachment (ending just passed mini stringers). The goal would be to achieve 1.2 or so the weight of additional water displaced, so only slighty denser than nuetral buoyancy. This is to avoid overstressing standing rigging (also beefed up slightly) as well as mininimize even more additional force in a round up. Water line will remain roughly the same. Looks like it will be an additional 3.2 cubic foot or around 210 pounds .
I sail the bay mostly, and often with a 26 pearson. Draft on the order of another 12 inches is not an issue. This boat is not trailered and resale is non issue.
Also, centerboard is missing and the thru hull for the (also missing) pendent line is grooved thru and leaking. These things, along with lust for a cal 24 hunt, and general absurdity are the driving motivation for this.
Thoughts? Call me crazy, its ok.
I have recently aquired a 1982 23 for a song. It has immense potential and is undergoing a lot of work atm. Bulkheads, new transom structure and backing plates, gel coat work etc.
The main issue and reason for its near free price is water intrusion and the resulting freezing and cracking of the encapsulated keel. The keel has been drilled, drained, vacuum pumped and dried for a season. Forced acetone wash and fill is soon to come. The main issue i am having is the expansion cracks (in laminate) are in the keel stub trunk. A repair up to par is near impossible 14 inches up a 2 inch wide slot.
This leads me to the bulk of this post. I am considering eliminating the centerboard and extending the keel stub. The slot would be filled and glassed flat. An additional 12 inches of keel would be formed out of 8lb foam churned with leadshot and following the original 58 degree sweep, taper, and rough foil shape, while trying to improve aspect ratio over the upper portion. This would be bonded to the existing filled keel stub, and heavily glassed over including 16 outward of keel/hull attachment (ending just passed mini stringers). The goal would be to achieve 1.2 or so the weight of additional water displaced, so only slighty denser than nuetral buoyancy. This is to avoid overstressing standing rigging (also beefed up slightly) as well as mininimize even more additional force in a round up. Water line will remain roughly the same. Looks like it will be an additional 3.2 cubic foot or around 210 pounds .
I sail the bay mostly, and often with a 26 pearson. Draft on the order of another 12 inches is not an issue. This boat is not trailered and resale is non issue.
Also, centerboard is missing and the thru hull for the (also missing) pendent line is grooved thru and leaking. These things, along with lust for a cal 24 hunt, and general absurdity are the driving motivation for this.
Thoughts? Call me crazy, its ok.