34' Keel Joint

[jablonsa]

Hi, Im considering purchasing a 1981 34' C&C yacht. I hade a look at it out of the water and its got a joint running along the keel. I know the owners liked to race it.
The surveyor said its cosmetic.
Should i be worried about anything.
Is there a way to fix this so it lasts.
How serious is this.

I greatly appreciate your comments.

 

[Ted]

The joint crack is definitely nothing to be concerned about. There is always going to be a slight movement between the lead keel and fiberglass keel stub or hull. Most of the time the bottom paint will crack at this joint because the bottom paint is not flexible. Sand, fair and repaint. If this really bothers you, grind the joint at least 2" on each side of the joint and lay in a length of fiberglass cloth and resin, fair it and paint. Your surveyor is correct and what you are looking at is purely cosmetic.