Not sure about maintenance concern
I asked a well known keel manufacturer (Mars Keel in Canada) how much it would be to build a lead keel with a ballast of 7900 lbs in lieu of an iron keel for the Hunter 45DS. Their cost was approx. $15,000.00 and that did not include the installation costs but did include a delivery cost. This price was also based on me supplying them my old keel which is a hybrid iron on top and lead bulb below. I guess they would reuse the lead bulb to offset the cost of the new keel. The lead bulb on my hybrid weighs approx. 5700 lbs.
The new Catalina 445 uses a lead keel so I think even though it's more money it is surely worth it in less maintenance costs and thinner sections resulting in less drag. Hopefully Hunter will return to lead in the near future.
I agree that Catalina uses lead, but they are the last of the production builders to do so. I really don't believe there are any maintenance concerns other than rust streaks, and this is purely cosmetic.
The real issue is increased drag, but frankly the boats get up to hull sped in 10 knots of wind, and I'm certianly not racing with in mast furling and 3000 lbs of food, beer, 4 tool boxes, tv's, 11kw genset, etc., etc.
I'm pleased that I have one of the last lead keels that Hunter put on, but it wouldn't be a show stopper for me in the future. Frankly, the biggest issue I have is that all of the builders, Hunter included, have gone with full laminate interiors owing to the scarcity and cost of teak. That is one area that I would really like to see as an option in Hunter's boats.
My 40.5 had a beautiful teak interior, including floors. I was very, very lucky that my 49 was the last 49 built with a teak interior, and was the reason i grabbed it. Many people have been on my boat and stated that they would gladly pay for the additional cost, which I understand would be about $30k