Hey Doug,
Yes, your keel looks just like mine. I had several people at the marina suggest that loosing the centerboard would not have a big effect. I also was able to talk to Nick Hake, who recommended keeping it. He talked to my "glass guy" and provided a fix which I think was to lay in glass from the keel bottom up into the trunk. Thinking about this, I was not entirely sure how this would work to seal the "slot" where the centerboard would go. After a LOT of thinking, I decided to seal up the centerboard, as you know. No leaks after the season in the slip.
Now, my glass guy also recommended sealing cracks in the bilge where the water was seeping in from the keel. The worry is that water will get into the cabin, seep into the sealed up keel trunk, freeze and expand and crack the keel over the winter. I think that the cracks extend along the entirety of the keel trunk in the bilge; however, the only way to know for sure (and to fix) is to cut out the cabin sole, which would be a really big job. This was stongly recommended by the marina and I may do this over the winter? An alternative to opening up the cabin sole is to add a drain plug in the bottom of the keel that would allow draining any water trapped in it. So far, the cabin has been totally dry the entire season so not entirely which direction I will go. I may do nothing unless/until I get a significant amount of water in the bilge.
Not totally sure I understand your approach. Are you saying you will tape off the cracks at the keel trunk and pour epoxy into the bilge? Interesting idea ....
As for loss of the centerboard, I never sailed her prior to removing it so I have nothing to compare to. She points pretty well and sails fine. The one thing that is difficult is that she has a tendency to stall in irons on a tack in light wind, especially with a furled headsail. Not sure if this is because there is no centerboard, or an inherent property of the boat or my inability to sail ..
Hope all this helps. Lemmeknow if you have any additional questions and I look forward hearing how yours turns out.
cec