have a leak in the keel 40 ft hunter, from bilge leaking out side keel.. understand bolts may need to be tightened and resealed and there is a caverty between bilge and keel . need info on how get specs on how to make repair.
keel problem
- Thread starter alfredcaldarone
- Start date
Keel Joint Leak
Some considerations. Have you confirmed that it is salt water and the source is from the keel bolt? Build a dam around the bolt and nut just to make sure. It is very unlikely that an undisturbed keel stub joint leaks...but it can. Have you talked to Hunter Marine about any kind of warranty coverage?
Rather than try to fix the leak from the inside, you need to fix it from the outside. Our joint was sealed by the factory with a marine grade sealant then covered with epoxy. I suspect yours was, too.
So, something has compromised the keel stub joint seal causing it to leak. You can re-torque the keel bolts, which might fix the problem, but unlikely. A yard needs to haul the boat so that you and they can inspect the joint. That sounds like what you have done. If the joint seal has been compromised and it is leaking they will need to lift the boat off of the keel, clean the joint, rebed and then rejoin the keel to the keel stub.
Another less invasive and less effective way is to cut a groove in the joint seam and reapply a joint compound like 3M 5200. This might work and would probably (emphasis on probably) cost less. This could be a do-it-yourself repair.
If it were my boat and sea water was leaking through the keel bolts into the bilge, I would do the job right the first time.
Some considerations. Have you confirmed that it is salt water and the source is from the keel bolt? Build a dam around the bolt and nut just to make sure. It is very unlikely that an undisturbed keel stub joint leaks...but it can. Have you talked to Hunter Marine about any kind of warranty coverage?
Rather than try to fix the leak from the inside, you need to fix it from the outside. Our joint was sealed by the factory with a marine grade sealant then covered with epoxy. I suspect yours was, too.
So, something has compromised the keel stub joint seal causing it to leak. You can re-torque the keel bolts, which might fix the problem, but unlikely. A yard needs to haul the boat so that you and they can inspect the joint. That sounds like what you have done. If the joint seal has been compromised and it is leaking they will need to lift the boat off of the keel, clean the joint, rebed and then rejoin the keel to the keel stub.
Another less invasive and less effective way is to cut a groove in the joint seam and reapply a joint compound like 3M 5200. This might work and would probably (emphasis on probably) cost less. This could be a do-it-yourself repair.
If it were my boat and sea water was leaking through the keel bolts into the bilge, I would do the job right the first time.
I have had the hunter 40 out of the water since winter of 2013 and all of 2014. It had a couple of inches of water in the bilge , this summer I started seeing water out of the the keel in the shape of the bilge silhouette. summer of 2014 there was still 2 inches of water in the bilge by October The bilge was empty . The boat never went in the water . It seems you maybe right in the leaking of the bolts . I wounded if relighting and sealing the bolts would be a proper fix ? It's an older hunter 1986 I don't want put too much $ into it as I maybe retiring from sailing ( even though I hate to) I'll be 70 in 2015 . It would be nice fix this boat and get one more memorable summer.
Any advise on how to proceed is appreciated. I a contractor of basement waterproofing amount other things , built in ground pools, but water and boat construction is somewhat foreign to me. I called hunter in Florida and even though they are not the same builder they did explain there was a cavity between the bilge and the keel and some kind of drain in the keel I just could not get my head around it .
I thank you for you comments it has helped and if you have a other clarification it will be appreciated.
Thanks Al
Any advise on how to proceed is appreciated. I a contractor of basement waterproofing amount other things , built in ground pools, but water and boat construction is somewhat foreign to me. I called hunter in Florida and even though they are not the same builder they did explain there was a cavity between the bilge and the keel and some kind of drain in the keel I just could not get my head around it .
I thank you for you comments it has helped and if you have a other clarification it will be appreciated.
Thanks Al
Bilge Water
Hi Al, our model has a tiny cavity between the keel and stub. No evidence of any kind of keel drain as it is solid lead and the long keel studs are molded into the lead. I suspect yours is made the same way.
Good luck on your repair and sail on. Let us know what you do.
Hi Al, our model has a tiny cavity between the keel and stub. No evidence of any kind of keel drain as it is solid lead and the long keel studs are molded into the lead. I suspect yours is made the same way.
Good luck on your repair and sail on. Let us know what you do.
cast iron keel
Hi Terry my boat has a cast iron keel and like I said out water over a year bilge water drain out and is now empty. I think part of the problem id the bolts. Spring time to have enough info to make the repair.
Al
Hi Terry my boat has a cast iron keel and like I said out water over a year bilge water drain out and is now empty. I think part of the problem id the bolts. Spring time to have enough info to make the repair.
Al
Old fogy
Hi Al, good luck on the repair. I'm unsure as to how the iron keel was constructed. Some boats have a solid iron keel, while some have an iron shell filled with lead pellets. Either way it would seem implausible to me that water would drain out through a drain port and not flow back in once the boat is back in the water.
I'm half way towards my 72nd birthday. Aging does have an impact on muscle strength, but I'm hoping my health will remain and cruising Belle-Vie will continue for several more years. Hang in there Al.
Hi Al, good luck on the repair. I'm unsure as to how the iron keel was constructed. Some boats have a solid iron keel, while some have an iron shell filled with lead pellets. Either way it would seem implausible to me that water would drain out through a drain port and not flow back in once the boat is back in the water.
I'm half way towards my 72nd birthday. Aging does have an impact on muscle strength, but I'm hoping my health will remain and cruising Belle-Vie will continue for several more years. Hang in there Al.