I have just realized I have cracks on both the forward and aft sides of my keel. They are each about 3 inches long. Is this common for Hunter 28.5? What needs to be done to fix the problem? Any ideas. Should I pull the boat out of the water immediately, or could this wait until the end of the sailing season before I fix it? Is this something that could be fixed by a novice? Thanks, Rick Heffner
Keel Cracks
- Thread starter Theheff
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Common at Hull joint
All keel to hull joints on these boats have cracks. Don't worry about it if this is where it is. At next pull out you can patch it.
All keel to hull joints on these boats have cracks. Don't worry about it if this is where it is. At next pull out you can patch it.
while cracks
at the keel/hull joint are pretty common,whether they are serious or not depends on whether or not the crack has compromised your keel bolts and/or is letting water into the bilge or between the hull and the liner. My 1986 H28.5, for example, has a small crack at the keel/hull joint all the way around the keel. So far, no water has ingressed as best I can tell. Each spring, I grind out the joint a bit and refill it with a flexible sealer like 3M5200 or POR-15 putty. This is pretty common for these boats. But if water is getting into your boat from this crack, you do have a serious problem that would require your, or a professional's, immediate attention.
at the keel/hull joint are pretty common,whether they are serious or not depends on whether or not the crack has compromised your keel bolts and/or is letting water into the bilge or between the hull and the liner. My 1986 H28.5, for example, has a small crack at the keel/hull joint all the way around the keel. So far, no water has ingressed as best I can tell. Each spring, I grind out the joint a bit and refill it with a flexible sealer like 3M5200 or POR-15 putty. This is pretty common for these boats. But if water is getting into your boat from this crack, you do have a serious problem that would require your, or a professional's, immediate attention.
Warren, Thanks for the thread. I am not getting water in the boat, so I'll do the same type repair on a warm Georgia winter day. Again thanks all for the info for a newbe
Hunter's recommendation
As noted, cracks are common (check the archives). I called Hunter four years ago when I discovered same on my H30. They recommended opening the cracks up with a Dremmel tool, filling with 3M 5200, and glassing over. Just hauled last week, and cracks have not reappeared after four years.
As noted, cracks are common (check the archives). I called Hunter four years ago when I discovered same on my H30. They recommended opening the cracks up with a Dremmel tool, filling with 3M 5200, and glassing over. Just hauled last week, and cracks have not reappeared after four years.
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