I have a 1974 O'day 22 that sat for 15 years in a backyard before it was given to me. The boat has clean ed up very nicley but has a small leak where the front of the keel and the bottom of the boat meet. I suspect it's from stress incurred when we jacked the boat up at the previous owner's to get it onto a trailer (used bottle jacks on the keel) My questions are: How is the keel in the 1974 Oday 22 attached? I cannot find any keel bolts in the bilge. To repair the leak I'm planning to grind open the leaking spot, inspect for additional damage, refill with epoxy filler then re-glass. Opinions on this approach? Thanks!
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
W
Warrens
No Keel Bolts
No keel bolts....the ballast is glassed into the interior of the keel. You can repair from the outside if the "crack" does not go all the way through. If it does go all the way through you may have to do work on the inside too (big job). I've had my "22" for 33 years.....good boat!
No keel bolts....the ballast is glassed into the interior of the keel. You can repair from the outside if the "crack" does not go all the way through. If it does go all the way through you may have to do work on the inside too (big job). I've had my "22" for 33 years.....good boat!
Keel Problems
I doubt that jacks did the damage to your hull. I have the same boat, a '74, and had the same problem. I know exactly when and where my problems started--May, 1994, on my way into St. James on the Chesapeake. Being a holiday weekend, I was passed by a continuous stream of 40' stink-pots, all doing their 20 kts, and after crashing down on their 4' wakes for a couple of hours, the hull-keel joint finally gave way. I nearly sank that night! I had the crack repaired twice by two different yards, but as soon as I would take a good wave the crack would open up again. Finally did it the right way and fixed it myself by glassing in a triangular piece of 3/4" treated wood that extends the keel about 1-1/2' toward the bow and shaped to join the leading edge of the keel nearly to its bottom. I now have a dry boat.
I doubt that jacks did the damage to your hull. I have the same boat, a '74, and had the same problem. I know exactly when and where my problems started--May, 1994, on my way into St. James on the Chesapeake. Being a holiday weekend, I was passed by a continuous stream of 40' stink-pots, all doing their 20 kts, and after crashing down on their 4' wakes for a couple of hours, the hull-keel joint finally gave way. I nearly sank that night! I had the crack repaired twice by two different yards, but as soon as I would take a good wave the crack would open up again. Finally did it the right way and fixed it myself by glassing in a triangular piece of 3/4" treated wood that extends the keel about 1-1/2' toward the bow and shaped to join the leading edge of the keel nearly to its bottom. I now have a dry boat.
J
John Kleineberg
K
Kevin Walsh
Same problem
I have the same problem. The first time I took it out I had a hand pump and needed it. Then hooked up the bilge pump. I found cracks on both ends of the keel at the hull. Using a belt sander I ground a big channel along the crack and filled it with marine tex. It looks like the previous repair was done with bondo by the guy who owned it befor me. He was an auto body guy. The bondo was white and real easy to sand. The Marine tex is much harder. I slowed the water coming in by 2/3rds. Now I have to do the aft crack which is not as bad. I guess this is a pretty common problem. If it happens again, I will use glass. So far so good.
I have the same problem. The first time I took it out I had a hand pump and needed it. Then hooked up the bilge pump. I found cracks on both ends of the keel at the hull. Using a belt sander I ground a big channel along the crack and filled it with marine tex. It looks like the previous repair was done with bondo by the guy who owned it befor me. He was an auto body guy. The bondo was white and real easy to sand. The Marine tex is much harder. I slowed the water coming in by 2/3rds. Now I have to do the aft crack which is not as bad. I guess this is a pretty common problem. If it happens again, I will use glass. So far so good.
K
Kevin Walsh
More on the keel cracks
The more I think about it, you may be right. My boat sits on a trailer with no keel support. It must bouce up and down while traveling. I also have been in it quite a bit on the trailer. The previous owner didn't have a trailer though. So, when it happend to them, it must have been stress caused by normal useage. It is 32 years old. I will keep a close eye on the marine tex repair and report back if it cracks. We get a lot of good waves on the Hudson form tanker and speed boats. I also trailer it every time I use it and that must cause a lot of stress.
The more I think about it, you may be right. My boat sits on a trailer with no keel support. It must bouce up and down while traveling. I also have been in it quite a bit on the trailer. The previous owner didn't have a trailer though. So, when it happend to them, it must have been stress caused by normal useage. It is 32 years old. I will keep a close eye on the marine tex repair and report back if it cracks. We get a lot of good waves on the Hudson form tanker and speed boats. I also trailer it every time I use it and that must cause a lot of stress.
A
Alan Gillberg
mine too
I repaired a crack and the whole keel this summer - alot of grinding and 3 gallons of resin with all the trimmings -- inside and outside - the boat is solid again--- I believe the problem started with water left in the bottom over several winters and delaminating the fiberglass- that all ground out and replaced with epoxy resin and mesh on the inside - with a little insurance of 4 layes of epoxy and mesh on the outside also- no more sags - If you want to know more email me alzone@cheqnet.net Algae
I repaired a crack and the whole keel this summer - alot of grinding and 3 gallons of resin with all the trimmings -- inside and outside - the boat is solid again--- I believe the problem started with water left in the bottom over several winters and delaminating the fiberglass- that all ground out and replaced with epoxy resin and mesh on the inside - with a little insurance of 4 layes of epoxy and mesh on the outside also- no more sags - If you want to know more email me alzone@cheqnet.net Algae
- Status
- Not open for further replies.