keel material HUNTER 1979 H-30

[JOHN KEVIN O'BRIEN]

DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT THE OLDER 1974-1983 HUNTER MODELS HAD AS KEEL MATERIAL?I HOPE ITS LEAD? KEEL BOLTS ARE THEY STAINLES STEEL? HULL TO DECK JOINT ADHESIVE 3M 5200 ? WAS IT AROUND THEN ?SKEG RUDDER: RUDDER POST STAINLESS STEEL ? HOW IS THE RUDDER ATTACHED TO THE SKEG ? ANYWAY TO PERFORM MAINTENACE? THANKS JOHN KEVIN O'BRIEN OS1(SW) USN RET. OBNME HUNTER 1979 30 OBNME@AOL.COM

 

[Mark Whitson]

Partial Answer

I can give you a partial answer...Keel is lead (at least that is what it looked like when I stripped off the paint off in prep for barrier coat), Keel bolts are Stainless steel. If you find out info on the rest I would be interested to know too.Retired fm the Navy now are you. Good luck with your goal to cruise the blue ocean in your Hunter 30.Mark

 

[Tom M.]

About the Undercarrage

Hunter started using cast iron keels on the 1983 34footer prior to that it was all cast lead with s/s bolts, the joint between the keel and the bilge was epoxy, a special blend, the skeg on the 30footer has a bronze retaining fitting that the rudder shaft is retained by this fitting, also if you have to remove the propeller shaft, you'll find the skeg is in the way. as to the first response: sailing the deep blue ???, if your plans include this type of sailing, better build a bridgedeck and a 5" sill above it, to keep you afloat, and a main cabin manual bilge pump, you can operate at the helm. Via Con Dios !.

 

[Mark Whitson]

Skeg

Tom: I take it that the bronze retaining fitting for the rudder is on the bottom of the skeg. Is it possible/easy to remove the skeg assuming that I want to remove the prop shaft?

 

[Jim Rice]

Not all that glitters...

...is, ah, lead. When I stripped the bottom paint from my keel (1980 H27), I found rust spots! Some were as big as a quarter, and went in about 3/4". I was told by a friend with a 30' O'day that manufacturers would frequently eke out the lead with steel punchings (very cheap from founderies, I am told). In any case, it was easy to dig out the rust and fill with epoxy. Keep an eye out for this.