Leak at brass tube-keel cable hose

[Geoff A.]

I have a leak at the brass tube where the keel hose attatches. The boat went on the trailer wrong and it appears the keel cable hit the side cracking were the brass tube exits the bottom of the hull. Has anyone had to fix this part of their boat? Does the tube come out or can I glass around it? Help please!!!

 

[Bayard Gross]

this might be serious

Mounted at the top of the brass tube there is a keel cable turning ball which is inside the robber hose. As this ball incurs some pressure as the keel is raised and lowered, it is imperative that the brass tube is securely affixed to the hull. The first action is to very carefully remove the hose which may have to be cut off with a hack saw as there is a wire reinforcement in it and it may be stuck on very tightly to the brass tube. But first, disconnect the keel cable and wind it up onto the winch first. You need to avoid any more damage to the support for the brass tube.From here a better examination of the damage can be made. This should be repairable using an epoxy (not polyester) resin epoxy with some sort of filler in it. Check out something from West Systems.I think you should also replace the turning ball and will probably also have to replace the rubber hose both which are available from Catalina Direct.

 

[Geoff A.]

Ya! I am a little concerned

The hose is off and the ball is out. The damage does not seem much. The Water is a slow drip. I thought it was the hose but once the new hose was on, it still leaked but it was coming from below the hose. I really can't tell what caused it. I thought it was from the trailer, but now I don't think so. I think that I am going to grind away the damaged area and reglass with epoxy. After looking at it, I think if I go down about 2 or 3 inches I should be good. After that, I think I might add a bilge pump. Any more input would be helpful. The tube does not move and seems solid.

 

[Charlie on "Kestrel"]

Keel thru Hull

Geoff,When I got my '86 two years ago, the rubber hose had severe dry rot. I removed the keel cable and winch for better access and when I tried to remove the rubber hose, the brass pipe came out of the hull with it. When I cleaned up the brass pipe, I found it threaded on the end that went into the hull. I guess that it was so to provide some purchase when originally glassed in. What I did was to epoxy it back into the hole it came out of, carefull to line up the turning ball pin hole. I then added more epoxy at the joint of the hull to the pipe both inside and from below. I purchased a new turning ball and hose from Catalina Direct and replaced them as long as I had it apart. Its two years now and it hasn't leaked a drop. Charlie

 

[Geoff A.]

Thanks

Thanks for the help.Geoff