O'Day 34 Keel Maintenance

[Tom Curry]

The joint between the keel and boat on my O'Day 34 over all is in good shape. However there is a small crack in the paint running all the way around the joint. I've been told that it's important to keep this joint sealed and maintained. Since I bought the boat last fall and the owner is unavailable I don't know how long ago maintenance has be done on the keel. Can anyone tell me a source for information on how this maintainence is done? What type of seal is needed between the keel and boat? etc.Thanks,Tom

 

[Dave Mauney]

Just talked to the Yard

TomI have an O'Day 35 of 1989 vintage. I was just talking to a local yard that I trust about redoing my joint. The criteria that I get as to the joint is leaking is that the cracks around the joint are wider than hair line. That there may be a rust stain coming from somewhere in this crack (bolts corroding). That the crack stayed retained water for some time after pullout when the rest of the hull was dry. Ours met all criteria. We will be getting the joint redone. References for this are two articles in the archives of Sailnet.com by Cayce, and a large article in volume #1 of DYI magazine at DYIonline.com.Good WindsDave

 

[Dave Mauney]

Torquing the Keel bolts

I have read several places that one way to inspect the integrity of the keel bolts is to retorque them to the level they are supposed to be. I contacted Rudy at D

 

[John Bowersett]

roll your own

Here is how I maintain the keel joint on my 34. Using a new blade in a utility knife, cut the old sealing stuff out of the joint. Get as much of it as you can. Also use various kinds of scrapers and anything else you have on hand to get a good clean groove. Follow this up with a bead of good old 3M 5200. I let the stuff completley fill the groove and even over fill slightly. Let it cure for two or three days and your all set. I did mine two years ago and it still looked great when I had the boat hauled this fall. It is a maintainance item though and should be inspected every year and redone as necessary. This method is also, by the way, the one used by the maintainence people at my marina. Good luck.