I have a Pace Ship P-29; it’s basically a CC-29. I have a swing keel that retracts up into the keel. Mine happens to leak like a sieve. I believe the problem to be at the pivot pin. The boat in dry dock and I want to use this time to fix this leak, but not sure what to do. My bilge area is always wet because of this. My bilge pump gets plenty of exercise.
Leaky Swing Keel
- Thread starter Money Pitt
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I think you'd be better served by going to www.paceship.org and asking the question there.
If there is water coming UP from the keel area it may be MORE than just a leaky pivot pin ... and should be investigated to insure that the encapsulated ballast of the keel section hasnt been compromised by water intrusion. Usually a pivot pin leak is satisfied by grinding out the keel section (from the 'outside' !!!!), removing the pin + 'board', repairing the damaged area with colloidal silica + chopped glass-strand 'filled' EPOXY 'mush' to seal, etc. Suggest you make contact with other P29 owners on the above website for the 'actual' repair method.
If there is water coming UP from the keel area it may be MORE than just a leaky pivot pin ... and should be investigated to insure that the encapsulated ballast of the keel section hasnt been compromised by water intrusion. Usually a pivot pin leak is satisfied by grinding out the keel section (from the 'outside' !!!!), removing the pin + 'board', repairing the damaged area with colloidal silica + chopped glass-strand 'filled' EPOXY 'mush' to seal, etc. Suggest you make contact with other P29 owners on the above website for the 'actual' repair method.
not familiar with a Pace Ship but it is not very clear when you say the swing keel retracts into itself. We have a Starwind 223 where a swing board retracts into the fixed keel but it is all under the water line and there is no easy way it could leak into the cabin. There are also boats that have a keel trunk which accomodates a ballasted swing keel and those may tend to develop leaks into the cabin. The keel pivot pin is usually above the water line in those boats and any leaking should be when underway but minimal. Many years ago I had such a boat and the keel trunk leaked like a sift. The way I corrected it was with epoxy. I poured a slow setting thin epoxy all around the joint between sole and keel trunk and let it work its way into every nook and cranny. When the epoxy set after 72 hrs the boat was put in the water and it was dry. Got tired of sailing with 2" of water sloshing around the cabin. Some boats use a rubber or canvas gasket which allows the keel to go through but prevents water from sloshing inside the keel trunk when underway. The advice to get in touch with a Pace Ship forum is the best.
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