Keel/Hull connection

[Dave]

A question:What should we expect when I look at an older O'Day 39 and the keel? We looked at one today and, though I am not an expert by any measure, came away a bit concerned. We would appreciate any opinions on the following:From the bilge, the keel bolts looked in great shape - Very Clean. Externally, there was one continuous, long crack where the keel met the hull that ran completed around the joint. The crack was a bit more pronounced forward than aft (evidence of a grounding? It has the full keel) At points, there was evidence of rust markings coming from the crack. Does this indicate an iron keel? Something else? Additionally, there were areas on the hull side of the joint that were spongy. Evidence of water penetration or do they use a 'spongy' material to smooth out the keel/hull joint before painting?Quite frankly, the rest of the boat was pretty impressive. My wife and I are looking to buy our first large sailboat, so we are fairly new to this. We will get a survey of any boat we seriously consider, but were prefer not to incur the cost if this issue screams "Run away as fast as you can". Any help would be appreciated.Thanks,Dave

 

[Tom Ehmke]

Right from the get-go, I would recommend that a survey be made of the boat before considering a purchase. If you have questions about the keel, they will be answered by the survey.However, there are some answers that may help you understand the keel/hull connection better. From your description it appears that the keel may have been grounded. My Oday 272 was forced aground by a strong thunderstorm two seasons back, and as a result the caulk joint between the keel and hull was broken. Water ran into the bilge from the loosened bolts and when I hauled the boat and inspected the keel/hull joint, the caulk was loose and in some places gone. You should be able to scrape the keel to tell if it is iron or lead. The keel on my 272 is lead, but that's not to say that Oday didn't use both iron and lead.The sponginess you notice could be the remainder of the caulk joint. It is soft and somewhat pliable. The hull connection stub on my boat is solid and drilled for bolts. It is hard to imagine that the fibreglass could get punky.When my 272 was hauled for repair, it was surveyed by a BoatUS surveyor who explained all of this to me. The repair was expensive, but the insurance covered everything except the deductible. The keel/hull joint is better now than it was before the repair was made. My bilge is basically dry. I have to flush it with water and cleaner every so often just to move the water out that the bilge pump won't remove.Again, my advice is to get the boat surveyed. Peace of mind about the hull/keel joint is just one piece of the puzzle.Tom

 

[Ron Busse]

Dave,As the long time owner of a 1982 O'Day 39, I may be able to shed some light on your questions as they relate to my boat. My keel(deep 6' version) is cast iron and it will on occasion "bleed" through rust stains even though I sealed and coated it. The keel casting does not fit the recess in the hull exactly. I tried filling the area with solid filler (since we club race it), but there is just enough flexing that it comes lose over time. I put a "soft" flexible filler in and it holds up great-maybe the same in your case. At any rate, definetly get a survey and they are a great boat. Regards,Ron