My keel is damaged. Wings are turned up and separated from hull. I need a new one. Can anyone please point me in the right direction? Need a rudder also.
Hunter 466 bulbwing keel
- Thread starter Makergosien
- Start date
To specifically answer your questions, Mars Metals in Ontario CA is a major producer of keels. There is another foundry in Rhode Island that produces keels, but I can't recall the name. They are not inexpensive.
Foss Foam in Florida produces a lot of replacement rudders.
Given the damage you are reporting, it sounds like you had a hard grounding or the boat was dropped. If either of those happened, it is quite likely that the damage extends far beyond the keel and rudder. If you haven't had a good surveyor look at the boat, you should and you should contact your insurance company. Damage can include extensive delimitation in the hull, especially in the area just behind the keel and extensive damage to the structural members that support the cabin sole and add rigidity to the hull.
My guess is replacing the keel and rudder will cost close to $20K. If there is additional structural damage $20K would be a very low estimate.
Foss Foam in Florida produces a lot of replacement rudders.
Given the damage you are reporting, it sounds like you had a hard grounding or the boat was dropped. If either of those happened, it is quite likely that the damage extends far beyond the keel and rudder. If you haven't had a good surveyor look at the boat, you should and you should contact your insurance company. Damage can include extensive delimitation in the hull, especially in the area just behind the keel and extensive damage to the structural members that support the cabin sole and add rigidity to the hull.
My guess is replacing the keel and rudder will cost close to $20K. If there is additional structural damage $20K would be a very low estimate.
Thank you. Yes, keel was ok, but after being stuck for 5 days and dragging boat out over sandbars, damage was done. Insurance and surveyor are engaged. We hope there was no further damage although it took on water from keel area. I reached out to Mars metal so far. My guess is they'll total boat, so I will have to do all this.
If the damage is only to those little winglets on the keel, I'd be inclined to take them right off. I doubt they had much to the boat's performance and the weight difference wouldn't be that much. This is assuming the rest of the boat has no significant damage.
A few years ago I contacted Mars Metals about changing a 6' draft keel to one of their shorter bulb keels. The cost was close to $10K about 10 years ago and that did not include transporting the boat to Toronto.
A few years ago I contacted Mars Metals about changing a 6' draft keel to one of their shorter bulb keels. The cost was close to $10K about 10 years ago and that did not include transporting the boat to Toronto.
If the insurance company does 'total' the boat, it will most likely not be insurable thereafter. The insurance companies share these 'totaled boat' records to minimize fraud. If they write it off, so should you.
Aside from keel issues and rudder, the boat is in perfect condition. No. I'm not going to write it off. I thank you for your advice and see your point of view.
I think I will simply cut the wings off and rock on if everything else is ok... and replace the rudder.
There are 3 Hunter 466s on Yacht World listing for ~$150K. Assuming you have the boat insured at agreed hull value for an amount close to that number, then the insurance company is not likely to total the boat. The cost of the repairs would need to be well north of 50% of the value. This repair will be expensive, but not close to a total. If the cost to repair is exceeds the companies threshold, then I wouldn't want to sail the boat unless all the repairs are made. The company will also want you to purchase the boat, they won't just give you the money and the boat.
For reference, my last boat blew off its jack stands causing about $15K in damage on a boat insured for $30K. The insurance company paid for the repairs.
For reference, my last boat blew off its jack stands causing about $15K in damage on a boat insured for $30K. The insurance company paid for the repairs.
I see. Yes, boat us inspired for $135,000. Everyone on boat yard seems to think it will be totaled out which is amazing to me. I mean how could it possibly be that expensive. Yes, I realize I will have to deduct cost of salvaged boat.
Labor at $80-100 per man hour adds up quickly.
Whether or not there is damage to the keel stub and fiberglass, the keel will need to be dropped and rebedded. That will take a couple of guys a couple days to do. Then there is any cosmetic damage. Painting the hull or gel coating will be $10K or more. Lots of expensive prep work.
Is there damage to the rudder tube? Will that need replacing or repair?
How did the boat get stuck? How fast was the boat traveling? Water entering near the keel, suggest some deeper damage to keel stub.
Whether or not there is damage to the keel stub and fiberglass, the keel will need to be dropped and rebedded. That will take a couple of guys a couple days to do. Then there is any cosmetic damage. Painting the hull or gel coating will be $10K or more. Lots of expensive prep work.
Is there damage to the rudder tube? Will that need replacing or repair?
How did the boat get stuck? How fast was the boat traveling? Water entering near the keel, suggest some deeper damage to keel stub.
Insurance companies "follow the money" so to speak. Your preferences don't factor into the decision much. I once had an 1984 Mercedes station wagon that suffered some very minor front end damage. The car was totaled because when they ran the "calcs" on the cost of repair it turns out the car parts on that particular car were worth so much and the parts I needed would cost an astonomical amount so they totaled the car. Just a $$$ decision for them.
I think Capta may have hit on the biggest point. IF it is totaled, before you make any decision to buy the totaled boat back and spend big bucks for repair make absolutely sure you can insure the boat afterwords. If you can't, take the money and run! Even if you can the resale value of the previously totaled boat will be discounted significantly. If you don't disclose that it has been totaled at the time of sale, you may be subject to legal action from the buyer (I'm not a lawyer but I slept in a Holiday Inn last night) One of you lawyer types can chime in on that. Remember, Capta was a boat broker (or dealer, I'm not sure which) in the past and he knows of what he writes.
I think Capta may have hit on the biggest point. IF it is totaled, before you make any decision to buy the totaled boat back and spend big bucks for repair make absolutely sure you can insure the boat afterwords. If you can't, take the money and run! Even if you can the resale value of the previously totaled boat will be discounted significantly. If you don't disclose that it has been totaled at the time of sale, you may be subject to legal action from the buyer (I'm not a lawyer but I slept in a Holiday Inn last night) One of you lawyer types can chime in on that. Remember, Capta was a boat broker (or dealer, I'm not sure which) in the past and he knows of what he writes.
I’d be a little leery about sailing without the winglets. Not sure how much they weigh but being at the very bottom of the keel they must contribute greatly to your stability. The winglets I’m told also reduce the pitching motion as well. My 466 has the 6’6” fin keel and it is a bit tender. Not sure I would whack em off and rock on. My 2cents.
Perhaps you could look into removing the winglets and have a lead shoe added to either side near the bottom to restore the weight. I know people have done that to avoid increasing draft but improving stability.
The 466 bulb-wing keel has 9,500 lbs of lead ballast. The winglets look fairly small, even if they weigh a couple hundred pounds it would only reduce the ballast by about 2%. Would that make a difference? Yes. Would it be a difference that was noticeable? I'm not so certain.
The 466 deep fin is 9500. The shoal draft is 9680. 6’6” versus 5’6”. I just know mine is a bit tender and shallower lighter will not improve things.