Keel Crack? Anyone else? Help, please!

Status
Not open for further replies.
Oct 7, 2012
2
Hunter 35.5 Florida
Dear Hunter Owners, Friends . . .

Yesterday, I visited a 1995 vintage Hunter 35.5 now stored on blocks at a yard. I expect to be cruising on her for an extended period this winter in FL. The purpose was a "quick check-out" before she goes back in the water. (She has been stored for several months)

Much to my dismay, I noticed a long horizontal crack in the keel. This crack ran from the front of the keel about halfway back the length. It appeared on both sides of the keel. It was about one foot down from the rounded hull bottom shape. I assume that "line" - which is now the crack - is where the keel (with wings and bulb on this 35.5) was originally connected to the bottom of the hull?

Worse, to my way of thinking, on the starboard side of the keel along the crack line was a large area of RUST (Ugh!) that had seeped out of the crack and down the side of the keel. Ahead of, and behind, the rust seepage area was ooze of another type (unidentified), but white, grey and yellow in color?

On the port side of the keel, there was no rust seepage, but plenty of the white-yellow-grey seepage?

First, rust (possibly from keel bolts?) is very troubling. But, not knowing how the Hunter keels were constructed, or attached to the hull, I am at a loss to know what to think about this problem?

Has anyone else every experienced such a Hunter keel crack issue?

ANY information will be helpful.

We do not even know where to start re: the investigation . . . let alone how to get a proper repair made?

Is there another expert source I can contact?

Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide.
 

Attachments

Dec 14, 2003
1,433
Hunter 34 Lake of Two Mountains, QC, Can
I would be surprised if it came from the keel bolts as they generally are stainless. You can check it at the attachment points under the floor boards. You don't mention it but your boat probably has an iron keel. Hunter produced several models where they used iron instead of lead. Looking at the pictures I'm inclined to think that the caulking used at the boat/keel joint lost its properties, seeped out (the white yellow grey stuff ?) and hence allowed water in the joint. That water in the presence of iron created the rust.

Unless you have noticed rust or rusty water in the bilge I wouldn't worry too much about it. Sooner or later all boats with iron keels get rust spots. Clean out the rust with a stiff steel brush, and bring the shiny iron back. Cover with a good rust-proof product (Por-15 or other). Once dry, seal the joint with 4200 (or other brand of underwater caulking material), making as good a seam as you can, then paint over with antifouling compatible with what's on the boat. For good measure, while you're at it, you can inspect all around the keel on boat sides to make sure the rest of the joint is in good condition.
 
May 24, 2004
470
Hunter 33.5 Portsmouth, RI
I have a 1990 Hunter 33.5 that we bought used in 1999. The following spring we had the same separation line around the keel at the hull/keel joint. The keel on mine is IRON, and probably yours is too. I had the yard (at our marina) check it out carefully. The keel bolts were all tight - that was good. They scrapped out all around the joint, and then did what they called a "belly band wrap" all around the joint. It consisted of 5 layers all around. The layering was West systems Epoxy, fiberglass mat, West Systems Epoxy, fiberglass mat, West Systems Epoxy. That was sanded down and fair'd. After that I put on the Anti-fouling bottom paint. All has been well with that joint since then (13 seasons). Since the keel is iron, each year there would be some rust spots show up after haul out. I would wire brush them and coat with Pettit Rust-Lok paint with 2 coats, the coat that with the anti-fouling paint. Each year there were fewer and fewer rust spots. In hind sight, I should have sanded the whole keel down to bare metal (iron) and put 2 coats of Pettit Rust-Lok on all of it. Have a good yard check out yours. I'm sure it's repairable. In 1999 the job cost me $1,100. You can sale to today and get quotes. Good luck.
 
Jun 25, 2012
942
hunter 356 Kemah,the Republic of Texas
First thing I see is that the block under keel is in the wrong spot all weight while on the hard should be concentrated at forward portion of keel.
 

JST123

.
Jun 17, 2011
42
Hunter 33.5 Lake Ouachita
1988 Hunter 33.5 owner here, thats the smile! this is a known issue. The only corrective action is to be sure your keel bolts are tight. For the same problem when I bought mine I checked them and they were good. Smoewhere on this sight I found the torque value, it's around 110 ft lbs. Need to check to be sure. Then grinded, filled with 5200 and repainted. If I had to do it over again I would have applied a epoxy type barrier coat over the whole keel to aviod those annoying rust spots.
 
Oct 7, 2012
2
Hunter 35.5 Florida
Thanks to all who replied!

We very much appreciate the comments and experiences passed along with this keel problem. Next step is the fix, obviously! Again, many thanks.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.