O'day 39 keel and deck connection

[slavanaway]

I have seen the posts for keels falling off 302s.

I am interested in the specifics of the mechanical connection of the keels and decks.

Does anyone know the specifics?

Deck connection. Type, bedding, bolts/screws, fiberglass, etc.

Keel connection: Stub build (plywood, solid FG, thickness, number of bolts, bolt type, bedding, etc.

The boat I am buying has a very visible seam around the keel and stub. Seems small, I haven't tried the wiggle test, or had a chance to dig into the bolts/bilge.

Also, the 39 was hand laid FG in the hull, correct? Anyone can speak to thickness or flexing in a seaway?

Thanks

Sam

where have all the 39's gone!

 

[Bob15946]

Last fall on my way to the Bahamas I had a problem off coast of Long Island with the deck to hull joint at the bow. The seam separated below the metal plate that supports the anchor roller. The boat was repaired in Maryland and I saw that the hull to seam connection had bolts that were thru bolted and then epoxied over. The connection seemed to be quite solid. The toe rail caulking was found to also be a problem. I suppose after 24 years the caulking is getting old. My next project is to remove the metal toe rail and recaulk it entirely. However, after the repair there is no leak now.
The hull to deck connection appears to be quite solid with bolts through the hull and the deck overlap every 6-8 inches.
Not sure this will help.
Bob
39 Oday owner
CodasOpus

 

[slavanaway]

Bob,

Thanks this does help. The boat I am looking at may have a crack in the keel stub. (The fiberglass part that goes down and meets the keel) I am now trying to find out more about the internal build of the stub. Is is solid FG below the bilge, is there a core of some sort. How many keel bolts, shape, size, type, etc.?

It may be a void that needs to be filled. They will hang the boat tomorrow, it is on stands now, and try to move the keel. If the keel moves and the boat does not, I assume that will be an issue with large $s attached.

I wonder what it costs to drop the keel, clean, and rebed? I guess I will get an estimate.

Thanks,

Sam