Help with keel crack, starts aft, extents 12-15 inches

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Paul

I'm looking at a Tartan 10. The one item I'm worried about is a crack that begins about 6 inches from the top of the keel and extends from the aft side forward just over a foot. The crack is maybe 1/16" wide. Is this something I can just patch an live with, or is this indicative of a larger issue? Thank you! Paul
 

Tim R.

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May 27, 2004
3,626
Caliber 40 Long Range Cruiser Portland, Maine
Could be lots of things

Look for any sign of rust from water leaking out when on the hard. I would(and a good surveyor should) recommend that the keel be dropped and rebedded. This should be negotiated off the selling price. Check with other Tartan owners. Could just be cosmetic. My 76 Pearson had this when I bought her. I faired and I was good to go.
 
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Paul

Est. cost of keel rebedding

Tim, Didn't see any rust or even any fibers -- just a clean crack with some depth. Rebedding -- that can't be cheap. Any estimate on that cost? I'm lining up a survey, but if this turns out to be lethal, I may just find another boat and save the $500. Thanks, Paul
 
Jun 13, 2005
559
Irwin Barefoot 37 CC Sloop Port Orchard WA
That kind of crack normally occurs when a boat is supported by

poppets and the keel is only supported at the front edge. It should not be any kind of a structural problem but can lead to some water intrusion around the keel bolts. The proper fix would be to re-bed the whole keel, but it may be satisfactorily fixed by patching with epoxy and tightening the aft keel bolts a bit. Im making this comment from general experience and not as an expert on Tartans. Good luck Joe S
 
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