I had the somewhat sad opportunity to cut the keel out of an Oday 25 this past week- it had been rear-ended, and had to go- felt bad, becauses the rest of the deck was in better shape than the one I'm sailing! Decided to post sosme photos just to show people what is under there : not much!
I thought I had to take up the floor, as I was unsure about how far the keel would be molded --it turns out the whole hull is one piece, with 600 lb lead blocks put in the keel space, then surrounded by epoxy. I was wrong.
I cut out the settees, then the cabin sole on the outside of the seetee line, figuring tht I could access the hull better if the keel was spread out into the bottom. It's not. I wound up just following the line of the bilge about 3-4 inches off that line.
The only trouble spots were about 8 large glops of epoxy that were plunked down on the hull to support the sole. They were tough. Otherwise , the job was slightly tiring, but took just 2.5 hours. I used a right angle grinder with a masonry cutting blade for the main cuts , then a sawsall fine tooth metal blade to finish the job. A skilsaw was handy here and there, but the grinder/cutter made it fly.
If I was to do it again, I might try it from the outside , lying / crouching under the hull, and letting the waste just fall on me - this would not work if there was water in the bilge, as I had, budt would dtake justd a half hour or less.
This is a full bunny suit, eye protection, respirator, ear protection job. I take an air compressor along to blow myself off before taking the suit off.
I thought I had to take up the floor, as I was unsure about how far the keel would be molded --it turns out the whole hull is one piece, with 600 lb lead blocks put in the keel space, then surrounded by epoxy. I was wrong.
I cut out the settees, then the cabin sole on the outside of the seetee line, figuring tht I could access the hull better if the keel was spread out into the bottom. It's not. I wound up just following the line of the bilge about 3-4 inches off that line.
The only trouble spots were about 8 large glops of epoxy that were plunked down on the hull to support the sole. They were tough. Otherwise , the job was slightly tiring, but took just 2.5 hours. I used a right angle grinder with a masonry cutting blade for the main cuts , then a sawsall fine tooth metal blade to finish the job. A skilsaw was handy here and there, but the grinder/cutter made it fly.
If I was to do it again, I might try it from the outside , lying / crouching under the hull, and letting the waste just fall on me - this would not work if there was water in the bilge, as I had, budt would dtake justd a half hour or less.
This is a full bunny suit, eye protection, respirator, ear protection job. I take an air compressor along to blow myself off before taking the suit off.
