Keel questions

[Kh3412]

Looking for info. 1977 Pearson 31. The keel has a bulge on the side of the keel about 6 inches down from the keel joint.
Wondering if it's just water that got under the fairing or could the bolt be corroding and pushing the lead out?

 

[Roland5048]

While you're still on the hard I would get a knowledgeable person to check it out. Last thing you want is keel failure.
Roland
s/v Fraulein II

 

[Kh3412]

Boat is for sale. Just looking for some information on the keel construction before I look into buying.

 

[CloudDiver]

Are you sure its a lead keel and not cast iron? The keel bolts should be stainless if not bronze and deep in the keel compared to where that bulge is. If that blister had anything to do with the keel bolt corroding and pushing out like that I would run.

 

[CloudDiver]

Checked Sail Boat data, yes a Pearson 31 keel should be lead.
I would be interested to find out what the cause of that blister is.

If it is in fact crevice corrosion to keel bolt, like I said, run. Unless you have a nice big barn on your property to set up shop in, time to spare, and money to burn I wouldn't recommend getting into a major project like dropping the keel and replacing the keel bolts. If you had a yard do it then the cost of hauling and storage per ft/day would be more than the boat is worth.

One other possibility (that could be easier to swallow, and fix), maybe the keel was sheathed in glass with polyester resin? Could this be a typical osmotic blister? If true, grind out blister, clean out, let dry, repair with epoxy fairing filler, repaint and sail.

 

[lillia28]

I've seen water freezing around keel bolts or imperfections in the casting cause bulges like that also. So could be nothing or could be serious. If you are thinking of buying ask the surveyor. Lead work is "easy" as DIY, but has serious health and environmental side effects, so in general I would say keep on walking.
L

 

[NYSail]

Seems like its the fairing. Bet if you hit it with a hammer, the bulge cracks up and falls apart. Just a void where the fairing did not adhere to the lead... Just my opinion but have seen this before

 

[Kh3412]

Looks like I will have to ask owner if I can pick or tap the area for a better idea. I was just hoping someone has had this with their Pearson. Boat seems like it is worth getting if not for that.