Hunter 28.5 keel issue

[stevec22206]

I looked at an 86' H28.5 yesterday. I took the included pictures of the keel as it sits now. I asked the owner if he had ever grounded the boat. I may be assuming incorrectly but the cracks I observed at the front and rear of the keel seem to indicated some stress related issue. No phyiscal sign of an impact on the front of the keel. I did not have an oportunity to inspect the entire bilge for damage. The owner said he had never run aground in the five years of his ownership. He implied that it is a common trait with the Hunter cast iron keel. He said he routinely has to repair these cracks with gel coat. I think otherwise.......need some other opinions from Hunter owners who have a cast iron keel.

The boat has been winterized but not covered. I also observed an accumulation of water (ice) in the rear most cubby of the aft berth. Could this have leaked in from the hose of the rear port scupper or possibly through the access for the steering quadrant/cable area?

Thanks,

Steve

 

[s sauer]

Looks like usual problem when the PO faired in the joint over top of the gel coat. Gel coat eventually cracks off the cast iron keel at rust spots as the rust expands. This isn't an indication of grounding. You can wire wheel bruch the rusted areas down to clean cast iron, prime , re-coat with barrier paint and pottom paint to protect the cast iron until another portion rusts thru. Hull to keel joint can be maintained as a soft loint or faired in and 'fixed' as often as you like as cast iron will eventually rudt thru anything you apply.
Get other opinions on www.huntertwentyeightfive.com.

 

[Honeyman]

What Sauer said, not a big deal. Looks like the deep keel version which is good, they "point" like mad. I had an '87 model that had very little cracking, but it spent its entire life on a fresh water lake. Rust was a minor issue, just ground it down, epoxied over raw spots, and put bottom paint over all. Great boat that feels like 30ft.+ and responds well to a 130-150 genoa. Wish I still had mine!

Umm, the leak...yes, possible from scuppers as boat had corrugated hoses down to hull drains originally that are hard but not impossible to replace. Wiring from pedesal and or steering quadrant possible as well. If its in good shape overall, don't be scared away. Great boats.

 

[jtm]

There is something known as the "Hunter smile" on these keels-I think it was Griz that introduced that to me in a some post. Yours looks like there was some work done on the basic shape as I've seen it more as a straight horizontal line in the aft and a
(fore)_____
\_____(Aft) on the front end of the keel.

I kinda agree with previous post on taking it down with wire brush bit and then either using the red antirust paint and maybe auto bodying over it, but I prefer using the POR-15 process- I've been doing the latter the last 2 haulout and it seems to maintain well.

 

[jtm]

just saw how the forward crack presented in the post ;<
It should have the backslash downwards at the then of the horizontal line above it sorry

 

[stevec22206]

I appreciate the input. Seeing no visible sign of an impact made me question whether it was just that, a characteristic of Hunter's cast iron keel. I also checked the rudder for signs of delam from water. Very unscientific, but just tapped around both sides. A few areas that had a hollow, not solid sound. I've researched this problem online and understand the need to keep it from getting worse. Have any of you delt with these rudders made by Foss?

 

[jtm]

rudder

if this is the original rudder and it hasn't split in 25yrs or so its probably as good as its can be at this late date. My original rudder split the first summer 25yrs ago on 1st long sail- hunter shipped me a new one within the week. no issues since.

 

[Warren Milberg]

While this may be just the "ordinary" keel smile that comes from the normal forces applied to the keel when a sailboat, any sailboat, heels, you really don't know how serious this particular problem is until the surrounding paint, rust, and perhaps filler are removed. If I were buying this boat, I'd make such an inspection a condition of the sale. If the owner balks, move on to another boat. For comparison purposes, my 1986 H28.5 has, at most, a keel smile of about one inch on the leading and trailing edges of the keel. I occasionally fill it with MarineTex prior to bottom painting the boat.

 

[Rich M]

Honeyman:

Since you are sailing my dream boat and I've got an 85 28.5 Wanna trade?
BTW these "marks" should be investigated, but don't look at that different from things most of us with iron keels have seen once or twide before.

 

[stevec22206]

Guys,

Just wanted to add that I have looked at a couple of other 28.5's over the past two weeks. There is one at our club that has these identical cracks on the leading and trailing edge of the keel. While looking at some boats online I saw the same type of crack on a boat on the 28.5 website. Granted, this may be a coincidence but it has at the very least kept this boat on my list of consideration. I am inclined have a survey done prior to closing the deal should I elect to make an offer on this boat. Another owner at our club has a newer 33.5 and he said he has to attend to the same issue now and then. How many of you have had problems with blisters on your boats? This one has been barrier coated so it's not openly evident that it may have had any in the past or even now. Can a survey disclose this?