I'm considering shortening the keel on my 1983 Hunter 31 due to the low water conditions on Lake michigan. Hunter tech support tells me they're hearing about this more and more. I'd love to speak with someone who has actually done this. My phone number is 414-874-1815. Thanks
- Status
Taken the first step..
Looks like you and Pete M. have taken the first step toward a fix. There are probably sailors with shoal draft bulb-wing keels in the Northwest or New England areas that would be willing to do a swap. By getting on this web site and voicing your interest, hopefully, someone else is listning. With regard to the bolt pattern, have you checked with Hunter Technical Support? Seems like they'd be a good resource. If a yard did the work it'd probably cost a fair amount but I think a couple savy owners could change them on their own. The bulb-wing keel should stand up on it's own with good blocking and the fin keel could have a support made to keep it upright. One of the possible problems is breaking the bond with the adhesive sealant. If the factory used Dow this should be easy; however, if they used and adhesive sealant then the joint would probably have to be scraped. The keel bolts require special deep sockets. I took a regular socket and cut it in half and welded a section of pipe sufficiently long inbetween the halves to clear the bolts. If you two are having this question with your 31s then there are probably skippers with other models with the same question.
Looks like you and Pete M. have taken the first step toward a fix. There are probably sailors with shoal draft bulb-wing keels in the Northwest or New England areas that would be willing to do a swap. By getting on this web site and voicing your interest, hopefully, someone else is listning. With regard to the bolt pattern, have you checked with Hunter Technical Support? Seems like they'd be a good resource. If a yard did the work it'd probably cost a fair amount but I think a couple savy owners could change them on their own. The bulb-wing keel should stand up on it's own with good blocking and the fin keel could have a support made to keep it upright. One of the possible problems is breaking the bond with the adhesive sealant. If the factory used Dow this should be easy; however, if they used and adhesive sealant then the joint would probably have to be scraped. The keel bolts require special deep sockets. I took a regular socket and cut it in half and welded a section of pipe sufficiently long inbetween the halves to clear the bolts. If you two are having this question with your 31s then there are probably skippers with other models with the same question.
It's been done
This has been done in the past. I remember seeing an article in Sail? about 3 years ago about a couple that had a H34. They bought a bulb from a company in Hamilton , Ontario. Apparently the company does this mod on a normal basis. I don't remember the company name, but they do advertise in the back of magazines. The operation is: Mark keel for amount to cut off. Cut off with chainsaw(!) with special blade. Block up bulb against keel. Drill mounting bolt holes through keel. Bolt keel on. They took 18" off keel.
This has been done in the past. I remember seeing an article in Sail? about 3 years ago about a couple that had a H34. They bought a bulb from a company in Hamilton , Ontario. Apparently the company does this mod on a normal basis. I don't remember the company name, but they do advertise in the back of magazines. The operation is: Mark keel for amount to cut off. Cut off with chainsaw(!) with special blade. Block up bulb against keel. Drill mounting bolt holes through keel. Bolt keel on. They took 18" off keel.
I thought the article was in Cruising World. But I am sure that the company that cast the new bulbs was named "Mars Metals". Maybe someone else will recognize them and can give you an address/phone number, etc.
- Status