Keel drain plug

A

Andy Toomey

.
Oct 30, 2019
78
Hi Gang.
Now that I painted the topsides I'm planning to haul out and put a
fresh bottom on my vega # 3175.

I have what appears to be a keel drain plug on the starboard side aft
right by the rudder. It's obviously a wooden bung pounded in and
glassed over. A messy job of it was made though she doesn't leak.

I have in mind to put some sort of metal fitting in there to
properlay drain anything out of the keel and (I imagine) the bilge.
She never makes much water and when on the hard that rain doesn't
even weep. I almost want to leave it but it doesn't make for a smooth
bottom in that spot.

My big concern is I don't know what kinf of mental holds on the keel.
I presume the rudder shaft is stainless but the fitting at the foot
of the rudder that holds it to the keel is unknown (being covered
with years of paint). Should I go with a stainless drainplug, or
what?
Or just drill out the wood. drain it and bung it up again?
Any thoughts?

Andy
aboard Gala
V 3175

AndyT 13 :: MY SAILBOAT GALA :: NewPaintNmast

www.andyt13.com www.andyt13.com
 
P

pjacobs55

.
Oct 30, 2019
1,459
Andy,
I have just gone through this exercise. To the best of my knowledge,
the rudder is filled with some kind of foam. It seems the plug at
the bottom starboard side is where the goop was poured in, as I have
one there too.
The rudder shaft is 25mm solid stainless steel and runs in a brass
(bronze?)tube which is glassed into the hull. The shoe attached to
the bottom back of the keel that holds the rudder is made of cast
bronze. It is held to the keel with two bolts, and has a bushing in
it to fit the rudder shaft. I suggest you replace the bushing.

Photo: http://www3.telus.net/sailing/rudder.jpg

At the top end of the rudder shaft is a length of hose clamped to
the shaft tube, and protruding almost to the cockpit floor. At the
top of this tube is a seal to prevent water from leaking up around
the shaft. Also a good candidate for replacement. (The original tube
is clear, but I replaced mine with a black one.)

Photo: http://www3.telus.net/sailing/seal.jpg

The seal I used is an SKF 9717. This seal has no metal exposed, and
a stainless steel garter ring, and should last forever.

I don't know the best location for a rudder drain plug, but I think
it's a good idea. I guess the lowest point would be logical ...
maybe a test hole or two to investigate.

Hope this helps,
Peter
#1331'Sin Tacha'
 
M

mphalv

.
Sep 29, 2001
195
We used a standard bronze drain plug that is used on the lobster boats up
here in Maine USA. It is fiberglassed where the old plug was located. Just
before launch, we seal the threads with 5200 then cover it 5200. No problems
during the seasonal hauls

Paul Halvachs
Double Fantasy
 
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