Hull support

[o2n7dcolin]

I want to remove all the interior wood for refinishing. My Vega is
supported on the keel and three supports on each side. Should i
slacken the tension on all the side supports so as to take the tension
from the bulkheads inside? Is it ok to put most of the weight on the
keel? Colin...

 

[imbissfrank]

Colin,
My "personal" belief is that the entire weight is supported by the keel. Side supports being used for balance only.

Frank Gallardo, V-2184, Cin Cin

"o2n7dcolin" ve1csm@... wrote:

 

[alan_critchlow]

Hello Colin

The only bulkhead that is structural, it seems, is the one under the
mast. I have taken out everything in our Vega. It did not budge.

http://www3.sympatico.ca/fa.critchlow/Vega_Bowels640.jpg

I will start replacing the interior this weekend. I hope to have some
more pictures on my site. This will chronicle the installation.
Unfortunately I have broken my digital camera.

Alan

 

[robertgainer]

Frank, what you said is how it can be with a boat like the Vega. The hull on
the Vega is more then strong enough to stand the strain of sitting on the
keel alone. However, keep in the mind that the people who block your boat
may have been taught to block all boats like the fin keel, thin-skinned
hulls that are so common today. In the boatyard where I had my shop the crew
was taught to put the stands on the turn of the bilge and try to get under a
bulkhead, and then put half of the weight on the stands to keep from having
the keel push up into the hull. Therefore, it is possible that the stands
under the boat are bearing some load; I do not think you can hurt the Vega
either way but ask the crew who blocked the boat about this.
All the best;
Robert Gainer

Frank said
My "personal" belief is that the entire weight is supported by the keel.
Side supports being used for balance only.