removehtml]A couple of years ago now I sold my Bavaria 32, it had a deep lead keel. I am now looking around to buy another Bavaria however they all now seem to have cast iron keels only, presumably this is to save money. What sort of effect does this have on performance as they are not as dense? Any other comments regarding this topcic would be welcome.Error: Error: expected [/URL], but found [/removehtml] instead[/removehtml]
Cast Iron v Deep Lead Keels
- Thread starter Peter Tierney
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Cast iron weighs 450 pounds per cubic foot
lead comes in at about 710. so a cast iron keel would need 60 percent greater volume for the same weight. A casting 8 inches wide 36 inches long and 18 inches deep be 3 cubic feet. if that is increased to 9x 24 x42 and made from cast iron it would be 5.25 cubic feet or 2360 pounds as compared to about 2100 pounds for lead in the first example. You would have to measure very carefully to find the difference.
lead comes in at about 710. so a cast iron keel would need 60 percent greater volume for the same weight. A casting 8 inches wide 36 inches long and 18 inches deep be 3 cubic feet. if that is increased to 9x 24 x42 and made from cast iron it would be 5.25 cubic feet or 2360 pounds as compared to about 2100 pounds for lead in the first example. You would have to measure very carefully to find the difference.
There should be a lot of info
in the archives about maintaining an iron keel. I have one on my H28.5 and, while it takes a lot more initial work to maintain than a lead keel, once you do the basics -- and keep it up -- it is no big deal to maintain annually. Other than that, I think you are dealing with basic ballast/displacement ratios and hull designs re performance.
in the archives about maintaining an iron keel. I have one on my H28.5 and, while it takes a lot more initial work to maintain than a lead keel, once you do the basics -- and keep it up -- it is no big deal to maintain annually. Other than that, I think you are dealing with basic ballast/displacement ratios and hull designs re performance.
Iron v Lead
I have personally never owned a boat with a cast iron keel. Mostly just the luck of the draw. I have seen several boats with iron keels that were cracked. Never seen a cracked lead keel.
I have personally never owned a boat with a cast iron keel. Mostly just the luck of the draw. I have seen several boats with iron keels that were cracked. Never seen a cracked lead keel.
The best record that I can tell about is Curlew
owned by Tim and Pauline Carr. Curlew is a wooden boat built sometime about 1900 with a cast iron keel. The Carrs restored the boat and sailed it for many years and have since donated it to a museum in Britain. It was spared from distruction during world war two because she had a cast iron keel while boats with lead keels were being broken up to make bullets.
owned by Tim and Pauline Carr. Curlew is a wooden boat built sometime about 1900 with a cast iron keel. The Carrs restored the boat and sailed it for many years and have since donated it to a museum in Britain. It was spared from distruction during world war two because she had a cast iron keel while boats with lead keels were being broken up to make bullets.
Keel problem
Cast iron keels are susceptible to pitting caused by electrolysis this will occur towards the after end of the keel about at middle depth and spreading. It is caused by cavitation of the water as it passes over the keel inducing an electrical current. I have a Bavaria 38(2005) and have just treated the Keel(cleaned and painted) prior to antifouling and fitted zinc anodes (2 small round with a bolt thru' the middle.) The cast iron keel is easy to drill.
Cast iron keels are susceptible to pitting caused by electrolysis this will occur towards the after end of the keel about at middle depth and spreading. It is caused by cavitation of the water as it passes over the keel inducing an electrical current. I have a Bavaria 38(2005) and have just treated the Keel(cleaned and painted) prior to antifouling and fitted zinc anodes (2 small round with a bolt thru' the middle.) The cast iron keel is easy to drill.
Cast Iron Keel
I have just cleaned the rust off our kast iron keel on our 32ft bav. Took at bit of work but now it looks sweet and should be another 5 years before we have to strip and paint again. Added a zink anode, the prev owner had not had one fitted. There was a bit of pitting as mentioned about, but the lack of anode probaly contributed to that. Good sailing Alistair
I have just cleaned the rust off our kast iron keel on our 32ft bav. Took at bit of work but now it looks sweet and should be another 5 years before we have to strip and paint again. Added a zink anode, the prev owner had not had one fitted. There was a bit of pitting as mentioned about, but the lack of anode probaly contributed to that. Good sailing Alistair
Iron Keel
I have a cast iron keel on my Bavaria 36 (2005). It was coated with 5 coats of Interlux 2000 epoxy prior to launch. Other than when it was lightly grounded in sand during a charter, the keel has required little to no extra maintenance compared to the rest of the hull at haulout. It has been hauled 3 times now. Following the grounding, it required some minor grinding (where it was beginning to mildly rust where the paint had been scruffed off) with that area being recoated with epoxy prior to anti-fouling. This repair has been quite successful as rust has not been a problem so far (2 years now). I suspect that this area will require additional extra work in the future, but if I don't let it get far ahead, I'm hoping it won't be a big issue. My boat performs very well, but I have not sailed on a Bavaria 36 with a lead keel to make a direct comparison. In my opinion, that would be the only way to really compare performance differences (if noticeable) between the two keel types. Good luck with your search for a new boat, Tom
I have a cast iron keel on my Bavaria 36 (2005). It was coated with 5 coats of Interlux 2000 epoxy prior to launch. Other than when it was lightly grounded in sand during a charter, the keel has required little to no extra maintenance compared to the rest of the hull at haulout. It has been hauled 3 times now. Following the grounding, it required some minor grinding (where it was beginning to mildly rust where the paint had been scruffed off) with that area being recoated with epoxy prior to anti-fouling. This repair has been quite successful as rust has not been a problem so far (2 years now). I suspect that this area will require additional extra work in the future, but if I don't let it get far ahead, I'm hoping it won't be a big issue. My boat performs very well, but I have not sailed on a Bavaria 36 with a lead keel to make a direct comparison. In my opinion, that would be the only way to really compare performance differences (if noticeable) between the two keel types. Good luck with your search for a new boat, Tom
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