Hunter 19 - Keel Rust

[hombal]

Hello

I bought a hunter 19 a few years ago, and it spent last year on the water, but the winter on the hard.

On the keel, there were pockets of weeping rust which when lightly aggravated with a screwdriver crumbled to reveal the rusted metal of the keel beneath. I would say about 10% of the surface of the keel is covered in this sort of problem, or at least in blisters which seem to be rust under whatever the fairing compound is. Also, where the keel meets the hull, the curved portion of the join (epoxy or something similar?) is cracked along the join.

The keel bolts are, apart from the flat of the bolt heads, buried in epoxy. There is weeping rust around the head of the bolt, and also around the epoxy.

There is no water ingress from the keel.

My thought is that the only thing to do, which isn't just a temporary bodge would be to grind away at the epoxy around the bolts and drop the keel to have it blasted.

Does this seem a bit drastic, and if not, has anyone done this job previously? (I have not been able to find anything too helpful online)

This would be quite an undertaking for me, so any advice is really appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

what year is your boat

 

[hombal]

Before the europa, but I don't know the exact year I am afraid.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Can you give us the hull number and a photo of the boat

 

[hombal]

I am afraid that I don't have any pictures of the problem specifically, I will take some tomorrow. Where would I find the hull number? I had a look on the back but I could not find.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Photo of the boat please as you said something which I question if this is a Hunter Marine boat.

 

[hombal]

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

no photo nor hull number. I cannot help out as I wonder if we are dealing with another Hunter boat as it was my belief there was another Hunter company in England which I am tending to question unless the Poster can give me the information. Hull number should be on the upper or starboard side of the transom or starboard side high up on the rear next to the transom.

 

[hombal]

Has this worked? Sorry, my photo did not load.

 

[twodzusfittings]

That is a british Hunter. You can tell right away, it has right hand steering! )

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

I am going out on the limb here so this may or may not help.

Usually the top of the keel has bolts embedded on the top which is bolted in place in the bilge area or bottom of the hull. Generally, you will find probably 5200 marine sealant used to seal the keel to the hull to keep water from coming in. If the material in the joint between the keel and the hull or fiberglass is white, that probably is 5200 or something compatible being a British built boat. It appears there has been a breach of the seal allowing water to penetrate into the hull and the former owner tried to epoxy the keel bolts from allowing water to the inside of the boat.

That was a very bad idea as you have to repair that seal and it would appear the only way to do so is to drop the keel from the boat, clean out the old caulk and then do an inspection of the keel bolts to see if they are still good or have to be replaced. When putting the keel back on, liberally use 5200 marine sealant. Good luck in your repair.

Twoduzfittings, glad you know your right from your left. British drive on the left. Learned a funny way with a British person. She was coming out of the banquet hall on the left and I was going in the same door on the right. Well, I got there first, slammed dunked the door in her chest and knocked her down on her derrieore or posterior end. Opened up the door and said Oh _____. She had beautiful eyes. Her name was not well known, Elizabeth Taylor.

 

[twodzusfittings]

Crazy Dave - " British drive on the left" That's why the steering is on the right. I bet she did not spill the glass in her hand!

 

[Kermit]

She had beautiful eyes. Her name was not well known, Elizabeth Taylor.

And we're taking advice from this guy?
Or
But did she buy a boat from you?
Or
And look who got famous.
Or
Did you seal up her posterior with 5200?

 

[twodzusfittings]

Pass the 5200. You crack me up!

 

[hombal]

Thanks for that advice. I have got some pictures here to show the specific issues.

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From those photos, would you say the boat is unsafe? Obviously I don't take this as professional advice, etc etc, I don't hold anyone liable if it falls off and I drown etc etc.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Hombal;

We share our thoughts and what we have experienced. It is up to the owner to decide what he or she will do with the boat. As for the boat itself since you are not experienced enough, I would suggest taking it to a professional boat yard for further advice and repair as you are across the ocean and this was not a Hunter Marine built boat.

 

[hombal]

That is fair advice. Thank you.