I purchased a 81 37C, 4 ft draft, several weeks ago and have not had time to bring it home from Pensacola yet. My broker called today and said he noticed something the surveyor missed - a foam filled slot in the bottom of the keel. He said it looked like the keel was for a centerboard that was removed. He also comented that the keel appeared to be almost an inch starboard of center. The slot is about 1 1/2 in wide by 18 in long. Is this normal? I have not seen anything in the forum about it. The boat is back in the water now.
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Really?!
Hi Jerry, That is really interesting. I have a shoal draft 1979 H37C and thought the keel was solid iron. But I've never looked at the keel from the bottom. I sure will when it's in the lift this Spring. I can tell you there is nothing inside to indicate that it could have a centerboard. My bilge is solid the entire length. But there are a lot of very knowledgeable cutter owners around here. You'll hear more. And I would suggest calling the factory. Ed(eschenck@ezo.net)
Hi Jerry, That is really interesting. I have a shoal draft 1979 H37C and thought the keel was solid iron. But I've never looked at the keel from the bottom. I sure will when it's in the lift this Spring. I can tell you there is nothing inside to indicate that it could have a centerboard. My bilge is solid the entire length. But there are a lot of very knowledgeable cutter owners around here. You'll hear more. And I would suggest calling the factory. Ed(eschenck@ezo.net)
Center board 37c
No 37 cutter was ever offered with a center board as far as I know. I did hear of the slot before but I have no idea of it's intended use.
No 37 cutter was ever offered with a center board as far as I know. I did hear of the slot before but I have no idea of it's intended use.
Ther really is a slot
Yes, they do have a slot, it is foam filled (well, it used to be on mine) and it is normal. The keel is lead, not iron. I've read that the original design called for a centerboard, but none were ever built that way, they changed the plan before going to production. The original keel design was still used, but they filled it with foam and covered it with glass. If there was glass, mine was long gone, and most of the foam is also gone. I've never noticed that anything was off center. Of course, I asn't looking for it, either. Gene Gruender Rainbow Chaser
Yes, they do have a slot, it is foam filled (well, it used to be on mine) and it is normal. The keel is lead, not iron. I've read that the original design called for a centerboard, but none were ever built that way, they changed the plan before going to production. The original keel design was still used, but they filled it with foam and covered it with glass. If there was glass, mine was long gone, and most of the foam is also gone. I've never noticed that anything was off center. Of course, I asn't looking for it, either. Gene Gruender Rainbow Chaser
Lead or iron?
Gene, how sure are you about the lead vs. iron? Mine looks and feels like lead(1979) but everything else I have read and heard says iron. And I am looking forward to more text and pictures for some of your projects. What is there now is invaluable for us Cutter owners.
Gene, how sure are you about the lead vs. iron? Mine looks and feels like lead(1979) but everything else I have read and heard says iron. And I am looking forward to more text and pictures for some of your projects. What is there now is invaluable for us Cutter owners.
Lead Keel
Evidently by 1984 the keel was redesigned. My keel (1984 37C) is definitly lead, has no slot and is not covered with glass.
Evidently by 1984 the keel was redesigned. My keel (1984 37C) is definitly lead, has no slot and is not covered with glass.
Yes, it's lead!
I've done two bottom jobs, including wire brushing it bare. It is lead. Well, maybe I should qualify it to saying that my '81 is lead. It even has a chunk out of the port side front edge where a previous owner hit something. (you can always blame stuff like that on previous owners, can't you?) If it was iron, it would have probably destroyed the boat before knocking out that chunk. Anyway, yes, at least mine is lead. Thanks for the compliment on the website. I really need to finish a couple things on it. Guess while I'm stuck ashore I will do that. Gene Gruender Rainbow Chaser Rainbow_Chaser@compuserve.com
I've done two bottom jobs, including wire brushing it bare. It is lead. Well, maybe I should qualify it to saying that my '81 is lead. It even has a chunk out of the port side front edge where a previous owner hit something. (you can always blame stuff like that on previous owners, can't you?) If it was iron, it would have probably destroyed the boat before knocking out that chunk. Anyway, yes, at least mine is lead. Thanks for the compliment on the website. I really need to finish a couple things on it. Guess while I'm stuck ashore I will do that. Gene Gruender Rainbow Chaser Rainbow_Chaser@compuserve.com
Bob, is yours a shoal draft?
Bob, mine, and I assume the others with the slot, are shoal draft models. Is your perhaps a deep draft model? I doubt that one has the same keel, I've been inside a couple and looked into the bilges, but have never seen the underside of one. I thought I'd talked to someone with an '85 model and it also had the slotted arrangement, but I could be mistaken. Gene Gruender Rainbow Chaser Rainbow_Chaser@compuserve.com
Bob, mine, and I assume the others with the slot, are shoal draft models. Is your perhaps a deep draft model? I doubt that one has the same keel, I've been inside a couple and looked into the bilges, but have never seen the underside of one. I thought I'd talked to someone with an '85 model and it also had the slotted arrangement, but I could be mistaken. Gene Gruender Rainbow Chaser Rainbow_Chaser@compuserve.com
Shoal Keel?
Actually, now that you mention it, it is probably not a shoal draft keel. I draw 5 ft. of water, not 4.
Actually, now that you mention it, it is probably not a shoal draft keel. I draw 5 ft. of water, not 4.
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