Cracked Keel???

[Matt]

I just launched my salvation project, a 1977 o'day 22. When sailing in a stiff breeze we noticed that when we looked down in the bilge, the windward (in this case starboard) portion of where the sealed keel hits the inside of the wall of the bilge, there were some bubbles. upon closer inspection it appears a small crack is the cause. on the other tack there is no evidense of a crack on the port side and no bubbles on the starboard side. The keel on this boat appears externally to be sound. The keel is an enclosed keel and the bubbles seem to be just from existing moisture, not "new" water from outside.Anyone have thoughts/comments fixes? How serious is this? Is it common?Thx.

 

[Don Evans]

Bilge Cracks

I also have small crazing cracks in the bilge, through the gelcoat. The gelcoat in this area is not finished and rough. The bubbles sound like a little bilge water working there way back to the surface through the cracks. The keel is encapsulated, and unless there is a crack in the keel stub through the fiberglass (which is possible) there is no way for water to enter through the keel. Have you inspected the keel stump from the outside? If not you may want to check the keel next time it's out just to be sure. You may want to dry out the bilge over the winter layup and lay a strip of fiberglass and resin over the cracks next spring.Don