Hunter keel stub attachment

[Al - s/v Persephone]

I frequently check my bilge to ensure that (as usual) it is completely dry.In the process, I inspect my keel bolts, and am happy to find after almost 5,000nm of sailing in 3 years what looks like a very secure attachment of keel-to-stub.However, the photos of a 2003 H426 keel stub at http://www.sailnet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39782have rather unnerved me.Does Hunter (still) complete the canoe bodies of its boats before merely "glueing on" (glassing on, actually) the stub to which the keel is so firmly bolted?If so, the status of my keel bolts would appear to be irrelevant, and my faith in what I thought to be sound manufacturing by Hunter (of its newer boats, at least) is badly shaken.Also, it looks from the photos as if there may be (potentially rottable) plywood in the stub, rather than solid glass.Does anyone know this part of Hunter's manufacturing process (especially as relates to a 2005 H36)?Any comments from Hunter Marine list lurkers?Badly in need of reasurance,Al

 

[Al - s/v Persephone]

I frequently check my bilge to ensure that (as usual) it is completely dry.In the process, I inspect my keel bolts, and am happy to find after almost 5,000nm of sailing in 3 years what looks like a very secure attachment of keel-to-stub.However, the photos of a 2003 H426 keel stub at http://www.sailnet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39782have rather unnerved me.Does Hunter (still) complete the canoe bodies of its boats before merely "glueing on" (glassing on, actually) the stub to which the keel is so firmly bolted?If so, the status of my keel bolts would appear to be irrelevant, and my faith in what I thought to be sound manufacturing by Hunter (of its newer boats, at least) is badly shaken.Also, it looks from the photos as if there may be (potentially rottable) plywood in the stub, rather than solid glass.Does anyone know this part of Hunter's manufacturing process (especially as relates to a 2005 H36)?Any comments from Hunter Marine list lurkers?Badly in need of reasurance,Al

 

[Rick D]

Best To Call Hunter Directly

I can't speak to any particular model other than my previous Vision 32 1990 which did NOT have any plywood, but I would doubt any since the 1990's did. As far as the stub, the keel stub is part of the hull molding, so you are bolting directly to the hull when you bolt on the keel. What you saw in that photo was hull damage. The part damaged was the stub and they cut it completely off. I think you can rest easily, and don't forget that they field test all those nice CADs and calculations by intentionally grounding these boats repeatedly at full throttle. But, for your own piece of mind, call Hunter. I'm sure they will welcome the opportunity to give you some far better descriptions of the load path and engineering. Rick D.

 

[Rick D]

Best To Call Hunter Directly

I can't speak to any particular model other than my previous Vision 32 1990 which did NOT have any plywood, but I would doubt any since the 1990's did. As far as the stub, the keel stub is part of the hull molding, so you are bolting directly to the hull when you bolt on the keel. What you saw in that photo was hull damage. The part damaged was the stub and they cut it completely off. I think you can rest easily, and don't forget that they field test all those nice CADs and calculations by intentionally grounding these boats repeatedly at full throttle. But, for your own piece of mind, call Hunter. I'm sure they will welcome the opportunity to give you some far better descriptions of the load path and engineering. Rick D.

 

[Scott B]

I'm not so sure any boat would have survived

If you read all of the thread and check the pics, the keel is actually still on the boat in the pic of the damage at the back of the keel. The clean lines of the bottom paint removal was/ most likely done to remove the keel on the hard. Another poster suggested the boat in in Turtle Cove Marina and the chart shows extensive corral at the entrance to the harbour. I searched the name of the boat and found Pawsitive Attitude in a charter fleet in the Bahamas. http://www.oceancharters.com/BareBoat/viewboat.asp?boatid=928&location=Marsh+Harbour%2C+Abacos&region=BahamasBesides, they jump all over any chance they get over at Sailnet to bash Hunters. *grr

 

[Scott B]

I'm not so sure any boat would have survived

If you read all of the thread and check the pics, the keel is actually still on the boat in the pic of the damage at the back of the keel. The clean lines of the bottom paint removal was/ most likely done to remove the keel on the hard. Another poster suggested the boat in in Turtle Cove Marina and the chart shows extensive corral at the entrance to the harbour. I searched the name of the boat and found Pawsitive Attitude in a charter fleet in the Bahamas. http://www.oceancharters.com/BareBoat/viewboat.asp?boatid=928&location=Marsh+Harbour%2C+Abacos&region=BahamasBesides, they jump all over any chance they get over at Sailnet to bash Hunters. *grr

 

[Al - s/v Persephone]

Apparently a false alarm

My apologies to the list for any unnecessary anxieties I raised with my (apparently too hasty) posting.Since I've only soft-grounded (in a previous Hunter), I have no personal experience of the strength of my 05H36's keel attachment. I have measured my H36's hull thickness just ahead of the keel (speed/depth thru-hull penetrations) at 5/8" and assumed that implied a probably greater thickness at the stub. Not exactly a 2" thick lobster boat hull, but reasonable.I shouldn't have allowed the story to which I pointed to spook me, as I have found a Sail Magazine 2005 Hunter factory tour article at http://www.sailmag.com/features/HunterFactory.pdfwhose photos #1 and #2 show what apears to be the hull of an H36 in process, and which clearly show a heavily reinforced bottom area in which is clearly a molded-in keel stub.My faith in Hunter's current-generation manufacturing processes is restored.Sorry.

 

[Al - s/v Persephone]

Apparently a false alarm

My apologies to the list for any unnecessary anxieties I raised with my (apparently too hasty) posting.Since I've only soft-grounded (in a previous Hunter), I have no personal experience of the strength of my 05H36's keel attachment. I have measured my H36's hull thickness just ahead of the keel (speed/depth thru-hull penetrations) at 5/8" and assumed that implied a probably greater thickness at the stub. Not exactly a 2" thick lobster boat hull, but reasonable.I shouldn't have allowed the story to which I pointed to spook me, as I have found a Sail Magazine 2005 Hunter factory tour article at http://www.sailmag.com/features/HunterFactory.pdfwhose photos #1 and #2 show what apears to be the hull of an H36 in process, and which clearly show a heavily reinforced bottom area in which is clearly a molded-in keel stub.My faith in Hunter's current-generation manufacturing processes is restored.Sorry.