Broken keel eye

[Myhunter216]

Please help,
I had my cable replaced on my hunter 216 03.
When the keel was pulled up the eye of keel which hold the pin to the cable cracked off. Does anyone have any idea on how to repair it? The keel appears to be made of lead.
Respectfully ,
Tom

 

[centerline]

can you just drill a new hole close to where the other one was?... and use it.

if you cant drill a hole in a new location, and if it is made of lead, it will be easy to pour a new section in the keel to redrill in the same location.... but the keel would likely need to come out of the boat to do that, unless a special casting/mould is made to fill the hole with molten lead while in a vertical position.

or you can have a stainless plate(s) made to bolt on to the keel that has a hole in the correct location....

or if its actually a cast iron keel, then it can be cut out and a plug welded into the void, and then redrilled.....

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

First a photo would help sir. Please send it to me and post it here as well. Wayne, if you are still here, I need you involved with this one I think. You will get a better response with a photo. Send it to my email address which is davecondon@mindspring.com but do not expect a response for two weeks until I finish moving as I am doing it myself which is a lot of work but to save $10,000, I will do it anytime.

In addition, contact Hunter Marine and find out if the keel was cast by Mars Metals located in Canada. Better yet, go on the internet and get their number and call them to see if they made the keel. If so, they can cast a new one just in the event a new one is needed and will credit you if you return the old keel. They can walk you thru it if that is the case.

Like I said, I will be off grid for a couple more weeks but a photo is a must. Please also follow up with Hunter on who the keel was made by.

crazy dave

 

[Myhunter216]

Cast iron

can you just drill a new hole close to where the other one was?... and use it.

if you cant drill a hole in a new location, and if it is made of lead, it will be easy to pour a new section in the keel to redrill in the same location.... but the keel would likely need to come out of the boat to do that, unless a special casting/mould is made to fill the hole with molten lead while in a vertical position.

or you can have a stainless plate(s) made to bolt on to the keel that has a hole in the correct location....

or if its actually a cast iron keel, then it can be cut out and a plug welded into the void, and then redrilled.....

Thank you for your help. Can you provide more info regarding plug welding?

 

[Myhunter216]

Thanks for your help. It's cast iron. Can you provide more info regarding plug welding?

 

[chuckwayne]

it's lead

Thanks for your help. It's cast iron. Can you provide more info regarding plug welding?

Sorry guys, It's lead. A picture of the broken off spot would help... as someone said, it may be possible to relocate the hole, or you could mechanically reattach the broken piece by drilling and tapping the keel - there is probably room on each side for you to add stainless reinforcing plates.
The keel is cast lead, weighs about 500 lbs, and is probably a hardened lead alloy - I think it would be iffy to try to recast the broken spot, although a shop that deals with metal casting could probably do it.
To get the keel out when it's down you would have to lift out the stainless frame with the keel - and lift it high enough to clear the boat. I use a 2 ton engine hoist - remove the screws that hold the frame to the hull, attach lifting chains and/or straps, and lift. my hoist is on wheels - you'd need something like a high A frame or ceiling chainfall to lift the keel high enough to clear the hull since the cable is not holding it in the frame.

 

[Myhunter216]

Sorry guys, It's lead. A picture of the broken off spot would help... as someone said, it may be possible to relocate the hole, or you could mechanically reattach the broken piece by drilling and tapping the keel - there is probably room on each side for you to add stainless reinforcing plates.
The keel is cast lead, weighs about 500 lbs, and is probably a hardened lead alloy - I think it would be iffy to try to recast the broken spot, although a shop that deals with metal casting could probably do it.
To get the keel out when it's down you would have to lift out the stainless frame with the keel - and lift it high enough to clear the boat. I use a 2 ton engine hoist - remove the screws that hold the frame to the hull, attach lifting chains and/or straps, and lift. my hoist is on wheels - you'd need something like a high A frame or ceiling chainfall to lift the keel high enough to clear the hull since the cable is not holding it in the frame.

Here are the pictures of the broken keel. Any repair information you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[chuckwayne]

Ouch! if you get the keel out - what might work - you need to show it to someone and do the calculations of the loads and geometry - you could wrap a heavy stainless strap around the damaged area and the edge of the keel and drill and tap into the lead, bolt the strap on. Since the pivot carries most of the weight of the keel, multiple bolts into the lead should spread the load of the lift cable enough to let you safely attach the cable to the strap

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Thank you Chuckwayne for helping out here sir.

 

[chuckwayne]

Your Welcome, Dave! Hope your move is going well and you're having a happy Thanksgiving! Our move is going well, we're really settling in but have months of unpacking and downsizing to complete!

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

WE went from 2600 feet to nearly 4000 square foot house but the basement has to be finished off. We intend to let groups like Campus Crusades, Young Life, church groups and so on to use the house for sessions. I may be approached for use for marriages as we overlook the mountains with nearly 340 degree views and at times it feels we are in the clouds. Email is davecondon@mindspring.com and I will send you my new info. My plans are to get the house ship shape as fast as I can so I can beribbit with Kermit the Frog on his boat and others too hopefully at Smith Mt. Lake as I am nearby to that lake.

I will post photos soon.

 

[chuckwayne]

We went in the other direction, from about 4000 sq ft in a house to a 2000 sq ft condo, single floor living, with a lot less maintenance. Puts us closer to Maine and gives us more time to sail and play with our grandson. We've got all winter to settle in - already had 2 snowstorms with heavy winds and rain mixed in. started the day at 18 degrees today, backup to 50's tomorrow! New England at it's best