23-2. I think there's (two) leaks in my keel - is this a big deal?

Oct 24, 2023
7
O Day 23-2 Oneida Lake
This is my second winter with 'Shark Bait' (yes, I let my daughter name her, small price to pay for a happy 'tween!). I noticed cracks in the keel the first spring, so filled them with epoxy and antifouled over. Come haulout time, everything was just as you would hope it to be. In the first few months on the hard it rained and water got into the bilge, where it froze before I could pump it out. I came back at the first thaw, and noticed two things; the bilge was empty and the cracks had returned in the keel.
My conclusion is this: there is a hole between the bilge and the interior space where the ballast is. When the bilge filled, the water ran down into this void, and when it froze, this water expanded sideways and cracked the fibreglass keel (see image).
My plan is to wait until spring, make sure the water is out of the void, patch it up again and go sail. However, if there was a way to find and fix the hole between bilge and ballast I'd like to do that.
Happy to be told I'm wrong, happy for any input.
And yes, next winter I will get the cover on sooner, and try and find where the rain is leaking into the bilge.
 

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
22,304
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
It is a bit late this year. If there is water in the boat, I suspect it will be freezing soon, if not already.

Regarding the fix, you will need to inspect the hull and bilge for any cracks or holes. You can try sending a dye into the hole/crack to see if it shows up coming out of the keel. Or you can just patch them with fiberglass or epoxy and hope you found the culprit.

Regarding the keel, you want to get all of the water out of it before you seal it up. This may entail drilling some drain holes low enough that any water will come out. You may want to try and vacuum/suck the water out, giving the interior of the keel time to dry in the spring. Once satisfied, you have a dry keel, patch up the cracks/holes, and go sailing with a prayer you have resolved the issue.
 
Sep 24, 2018
3,109
Catalina 30 MKIII Chicago
Did someone screw a bilge pump in to your bilge?

I the keel crack on my O'Day 25 when we hit -30F a few years ago. My research suggested that there's nothing but fiberglass and lead. All I could see was some sort of epoxy filler that had crumbled many years ago. The good news is there doesn't seem to be anything that would be damaged by the water.

Anyways, after this, I started drilling a drain hole in the keel at the end of of the season and filling it back in, in spring. You can also install a garboard. Take a careful look at your bilge and let us know if you find anything
 
  • Helpful
Likes: jssailem