I did an some searches with no luck and thought someone here might satisfy my curiosity. I have an 81 Oday 28 and have no idea how the keel is constructed/attached. It's fixed (vs centerboard, if they even offered such an option) with a 4.5 ft draft, and there are no keelbolts. I did a complete bottom job (strip, then barrier and VC17) to see what shape the hull was in under all that ablative, and to get a smooth surface. The gelcoat looked excellent, no blisters and just a few minor star shaped stress cracks, nothing on the keel or around the 'joint'. Was the hull and keel somehow all created in one mold? Made separately and then glassed together? Iron or lead for ballast? I have no problems at all (knock on wood), just wondering. Anything to be looking out for in the future?
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encapsulated keel
It's called an "encapsulated keel" My 1974 O'Day 27 is built the same way. My lead keel is built into the structure of the hull. The advantage is no keel bolts to ever worry about. I don't know if there is a disadvantage to this design, but I have been very happy with mine. Jim
It's called an "encapsulated keel" My 1974 O'Day 27 is built the same way. My lead keel is built into the structure of the hull. The advantage is no keel bolts to ever worry about. I don't know if there is a disadvantage to this design, but I have been very happy with mine. Jim
Thanks Jim
Thanks for the response Jim. Once I stripped the paint off I could see no sign of a joint between hull and keel like some others (the infamous 'smile' for example) and it really puzzled me. Musta been one heck of a mold. I liked the idea of no keel bolts to worry about, but it did motivate me to strip all the paint and see if there were any early signs of a problem. Not sure what could be done if there were, though. Obviously a good design if an 81 and a 74 are still going strong.
Thanks for the response Jim. Once I stripped the paint off I could see no sign of a joint between hull and keel like some others (the infamous 'smile' for example) and it really puzzled me. Musta been one heck of a mold. I liked the idea of no keel bolts to worry about, but it did motivate me to strip all the paint and see if there were any early signs of a problem. Not sure what could be done if there were, though. Obviously a good design if an 81 and a 74 are still going strong.
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