I am looking at a Tanzer 22 with a swing keel. The owner indicated that there is a leak in the keel box where the cable (to raise/lower the swing keel) goes through. He indicated that the previous owner tried to fix it (but apparently didn't succeed). The price is right. My question is.....how big of a fix is this? Would I be able to do it myself? Im more of a powerboat guy but I am handy with boats and I am trying to get back into sailing. Thanks.
Leak in the keel box (for swing keel).....how to fix?
- Thread starter mitchman
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Mitch,
This boat is a keel/centerboard. Two of our former YC members owned the Tanzer 22 and take it from me, they're a fast boat. I sailed it one day and was very surprised at the speed. The leak that you talk about could also be coming from where the keel meets the hull. If so, maybe it can just be caulked. It probably has a pipe where the centerboard cable goes through. The problem may be there. It's really hard to speculate without visually looking at it. There is one important thing that you need to know about this boat. When you raise or lower the hinged mast, you can not have your side stays connected. I'm pretty sure that this is stated in the owner's manual. One of the owners tried raising his mast with the stays connected, and bent the chain plates. You can have the back stay connected though. One other thing that I might mention is; I was able to raise the mast on the Tanzer 22 with my Gin Pole and boom vang with no problem. If you decide to buy this boat, build a Gin Pole because the mast on that boat is pretty heavy. You'll probably need to build a mast holding crutch, or crotch. These things are simple to build and they make mast raising/lowering very easy.
Joe
It should not be a deal breaker
Although my Mac/Venture 25 is not the same, it has a similar swing keel arrangement. Leaks are likely at the keel pivot bolt or where the lift control cable goes into the keel trunk. Probably just a worn place where the cable is and it may be fixed with a clamp and piece of hose. At worst, you may have to learn to use fiberglass and a file. No big deal. The glass is easy and it you botch it - just cut away and redo. The biggest problem with fiberglass and cracks is the people are too timid and try to just fill the crack. You will need to grind out around the crack and lay new layers of glass cloth and the resin. But I'll bet it is just a hose leak. If the leak is the rubber washers around the pivot bolt, you can even make them from a mouse pad. Buy the boat and have fun.
Although my Mac/Venture 25 is not the same, it has a similar swing keel arrangement. Leaks are likely at the keel pivot bolt or where the lift control cable goes into the keel trunk. Probably just a worn place where the cable is and it may be fixed with a clamp and piece of hose. At worst, you may have to learn to use fiberglass and a file. No big deal. The glass is easy and it you botch it - just cut away and redo. The biggest problem with fiberglass and cracks is the people are too timid and try to just fill the crack. You will need to grind out around the crack and lay new layers of glass cloth and the resin. But I'll bet it is just a hose leak. If the leak is the rubber washers around the pivot bolt, you can even make them from a mouse pad. Buy the boat and have fun.
Mitch,
I sailed that same boat that you looked at. It's one of the fastest boats I've ever sailed. We had four people in it that day sailing in a good wind against a foul current, and I couldn't believe the speed we were getting with the Main and Gennie up.
I sailed that same boat that you looked at. It's one of the fastest boats I've ever sailed. We had four people in it that day sailing in a good wind against a foul current, and I couldn't believe the speed we were getting with the Main and Gennie up.
I had a keel trunk leak on my Mac 22
and couldn't tell where it was even tho it was a large one.I didn't find out until I was about 2mi. on the other side of the lake. I couldn't see the hole while it was leaking or after it was back home on the trailer. As it turned out the hole was in the outer shell of the keel trunk hidden by the swing keel. How I had to find it was to fill the bottom of the boat with about 8" of water (leaking out is much easier to see than leaking in). I had to drop the keel to actually see the hole and also to repair the wet side of the trunk. Also had to open a 8X10 hole in the cabin side of the trunk shell to repair the dry side of the keel trunk. BTW Have much more faith that my boat will get me home without sinking however I do feel a tinge of apprehension at times when someone mentions water ballast.
and couldn't tell where it was even tho it was a large one.I didn't find out until I was about 2mi. on the other side of the lake. I couldn't see the hole while it was leaking or after it was back home on the trailer. As it turned out the hole was in the outer shell of the keel trunk hidden by the swing keel. How I had to find it was to fill the bottom of the boat with about 8" of water (leaking out is much easier to see than leaking in). I had to drop the keel to actually see the hole and also to repair the wet side of the trunk. Also had to open a 8X10 hole in the cabin side of the trunk shell to repair the dry side of the keel trunk. BTW Have much more faith that my boat will get me home without sinking however I do feel a tinge of apprehension at times when someone mentions water ballast.
I just bought a Venture 21 and was told there was a leak but the previous owner fixed it (supposedly). The lake is frozen over right now so I'm trying to find a way to tests for leaks without dropping the boat in. Any ideas?
The former owner could have fixed a leak above the water line. For instance, maybe he fixed deck hardware leaks or something of that nature. The best thing to do is to visually check the areas around the gudgeons from inside, and self bailing hoses. Look for rusty colored water stains. Through hull fittings can be checked as well as the pipe to the centerboard for the pendant line. When the weather gets warmer, have someone run a hose over the cabin top and decks while you check down below in the cabin for moisture. Gunwale moldings are always suspect for cabin leaks.
Joe
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