Keel structure question

[Ron Toivonen]

I have a 1987 Beneteau First-305 on both sides of the keel near the bottom is a U shaped depression. Can anyone tell me what this is?

 

[DougM]

An uneducated guess is that it looks like some sort of cover for an access to a locator used for keel installation, or for a lifting ring used during the manufacture of the keel.

That’s the best I can come up with when only halfway through my first cup of coffee.

 

[Gunni]

Confirm that is the location of one of your keel bolts, and that is a lead keel. Then you will want to look for signs that the keel bolt is loose or wants to be tightened. Typically these are j-bolts, cast into the lead keel. If no red flags I would sail it and inspect annually. For changes.

 

[Dr. D]

Bilge sump. The bilge pump should be located inside that.

 

[Mechone]

If it is the bilge sump ,you have an issue.You should at least grind a groove and fill it with west epoxy /406.
Did you leave water in the bilge over winter .

 

[DougM]

I don’t know about the First305 and I maybe wrong about my own boat, a 323, but I cannot recall that the bilge sump extends below the bottom of the hull , not into the metal keel.

 

[Mechone]

I don’t know about the First305 and I maybe wrong about my own boat, a 323, but I cannot recall that the bilge sump extends below the bottom of the hull , not into the metal keel.

It does on the 351/352 and the 35.5 first ,its cast into keel and the glass goes down into the casting,however its more forward