I have a Beneteau 323, iron keel. Where the keel and hull meet is a small gap. This is part of the design. Beneteau advises sealing with 3M 5200 marine sealant. I have applied the sealant in the spring before launch. In the fall when I haul out the sealant has not held or it comes off when we power wash the bottom. We are not power washing it with undue pressure. I sail on Lake Michigan. Should the sealant hold better? Is there a way I can prep it so it will adhere better?
keel to hull joint
- Thread starter Mike8193
- Start date
If it is still under warranty, they are sand bagging you.
If it's your $, you might have to re-bed your keel -- the yard will likely use some epoxy filler in the mating area.
Once it's done right you will be good for decades.
If it's your $, you might have to re-bed your keel -- the yard will likely use some epoxy filler in the mating area.
Once it's done right you will be good for decades.
First, whenever you have it blocked on the hard and the weight is on the keel, tighten the keel bolts as much as you can by hand. Someone here probably has the proper torque specs. I can usually tighten it some with a (30mm?) wrench. Not much tightening, and looseness should be eliminated. /// Where the gap is, clean it with alcohol, but maybe acetone, maybe even clean it twice. After caulking and it dries, paint over it with bottom paint. My 2006 B323 has never had the gap like yours.
Mike, I have a 323, and am across the lake from you. I am curious s to how much "gap" you are seeing. I find it hard to imagine that 5200 would not adhere. That stuff is notorius for being almost impossible to take apart once a bond has cured.
I have had my boat since 2004 and have never seen that joint open up. Originally, I had a about a 1/4" by about 4" gap at the very front of the keel that I sealed with some boatlife caulk. I have never really had a problem with it. I presumed it was just a fit issue between the hull and the keel casting. I usually check the bolts for tightness before spring launch, but have not been experiencing any significant retightening.
Knowing that you must haul out for winter storage, I am wondering if sometime in its life the yard did not properly support the keel during storage and the boat was left hanging on the stands or its cradle supports. Because of the extreme winter temperatures, its possible that there is some expansion and contraction going on at different rates between the iron keel and the fiberglass hull as well.
The only other cause could possibly have been a grounding once upon a time that opened up the joint, but that doesn't explain why the sealant keeps popping out.
I have had my boat since 2004 and have never seen that joint open up. Originally, I had a about a 1/4" by about 4" gap at the very front of the keel that I sealed with some boatlife caulk. I have never really had a problem with it. I presumed it was just a fit issue between the hull and the keel casting. I usually check the bolts for tightness before spring launch, but have not been experiencing any significant retightening.
Knowing that you must haul out for winter storage, I am wondering if sometime in its life the yard did not properly support the keel during storage and the boat was left hanging on the stands or its cradle supports. Because of the extreme winter temperatures, its possible that there is some expansion and contraction going on at different rates between the iron keel and the fiberglass hull as well.
The only other cause could possibly have been a grounding once upon a time that opened up the joint, but that doesn't explain why the sealant keeps popping out.
I had an Oday 37 with iron keel and had the same problem. The bead of 5200 came loose when power washing. I had used black 5200 but apparently didn't prep the crack well enough. When I sold the boat the guy at the boat yard used the new to me flexible West System epoxy to fill the gap. Said he had had good results with it.
Thank you for all the responses. I have been busy and just now getting back to this. I am the original owner. It has never been grounded. Always supported on cradle out of the water. The gap is small and on the forward(bow) part of the keel, probably about 4 to 5 mm. In researching information from the manufacture, they state a small gap at the hull to keel joint is a result of the hull shape and the keel shape. It is their standard advice that you caulk with 3M 5200. I just can't figure out why the 3M 5200 doesn't stick. "Heritage's" post about the flexible West System epoxy interests me. This small gap is probably an area that some manufactures would have encased. Beneteau doesn't. Is Heritage referring to the West System G/Flex epoxy? I read about it and it seems it would adhere, give a good structural bond with some flexibility. Thoughts?