Keel (Bottom) Repair

[Ducati]

Our 36.7 is up on a cradle (8 pads) for the season.

The fairing (filler) on the bottom of the keel needs to be fixed due to the few times that we grounded. I have been told that you will damage the boat hull if you try to raise it by tensioning up the cradle pads because the weight of the boat is resting on the keel. Sounds like good advice to me however I'm looking for suggestions on how to get at the base of that keel while it is on a cradle.

Thanks

 

[Snotter]

Raise it up and put a block or two under the portion of the keel you aren't working under. If done correctly, it won't hurt your boat to have the keel dangling for the few minutes (or hours) it takes to lift the hull to position blocks and to work on the keel.

 

[RON20406]

Ducati, there's never an easy way--only the correct way. Pay your yard for the time to hoist your boat on a Travelift and do the repair properly. The job will be well done and you won't have to do it again. Also,consider the cost/value of your boat and what the potential damage could be in a worst case scenario if something went wrong by taking a short cut. You are not only responsible for your boat but the other boats that are stored around you. No one said owning a boat was cheap or easy. Good luck, Ron

 

[higgs]

Can you arrange to have your boat sit in the travel lift slings? My old yard used to do this. They would put me in the slings at the end of the day, I did the work that evening, and they dropped me in the water first thing in the morning.

When working on keel fairing, I have had good results w/o taking weight off the keel. I am no expert, but I would hope that your keel bolts are snugly holding your keel in place where it is not necessary to make the repair in the slings.

 

[Maine Sail]

Boat stands are intended to balance a boat not jack it up and suspend the entire weight. Because of hull curvatures and flat plywood pads the contact point is often small in terms of sqq inches and thus high point loading to very small are of the hull can occur. I have seen popped tabbing and a "popped" grid due to boat stands. Both of these were because the keel blocks sunk but the stands did not. Most any reputable yard would hoist the vessel in the slings, in the proper lifting location, then do the repair.

I have seen boats lifted and supported by boat stands but they use LOTS of them and a very careful about placement and the lifting process and are not doing it with just a few stands per side. 8"-12" wide slings spread the load far better than do plywood boat stand pads.

Please be careful and consult your boat yard before attempting this.