replace swing keel

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Aug 5, 2010
3
Hunter 22 Green Bay
Have a damaged swiing keel on a 1985 Hunter 22. Any thoughts out there on a salvaged replacement, or even fabricating one ?
 
Jun 16, 2010
495
In search of my next boat Palm Harbor, FL
I will be replacing my keel over the next couple weeks, when I have my H22 pulled out. You can fabricate one of your own, but if you contact Al at Foss Foam, they can manufacture you a replacement. Foss was the original OEM manufacturer of the keel. This is where I got mine, as my previous one snapped in half. Cost plus shipping is about a grand. They were even kind enough to put a bronze bushing in it instead of the nylon one.

About 2/3 the way down the page are pics of a new keel. http://forums.hunter.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=104754&page=3
 
Jun 2, 2004
5,802
Hunter 37-cutter, '79 41 23' 30"N 82 33' 20"W--------Huron, OH
Do you have it out of the boat so that you know the construction and extent of damage? Seems like you should be able to repair it.
 
Jun 16, 2010
495
In search of my next boat Palm Harbor, FL
Part of the keel is out of the boat, as it is completely seperated from the rest of the keel. There is no repair for this... I will post pics of the seperated parts later today or tomorrow. I am having it hauled out this afternoon. It wont be pretty. Anyway, when my new keel came, I threw out the half that already seperated.
 
Aug 5, 2010
3
Hunter 22 Green Bay
Thanks for the info, I have a call into Foss Foam today.The were several previous archived threads on this subject. Wonder if anyone ever tried to fabricate one out of sheets of marine plywood screwed and epoxied together? Just thinking.
 
Jun 16, 2010
495
In search of my next boat Palm Harbor, FL
I guess you could fabricate one yourself, but you will need to be aware of the foil shape of it. I would guess that if it were not semetrical you might get lift on one side which would throw your tracking off. Also you would want to get the boyancy right, as the H22 keel is not for balast like on a Catalina 22.

BTW - I hauled out mine this weekend. So I will be installing my new keel sometime this week. I took the one bracket left down to a local machine shop, and they are fabricating two new brackets for me.
 
Aug 5, 2010
3
Hunter 22 Green Bay
Re: fabricated keel, I also have a 16' day sailer with swing keel, and both the keel and rudder are cut from 1/4" aluminum plate with no foil shape at all. They didn't even bevel the edges. It won't win any beauty contests, but it's worked since 1976. Well, this is the sort of stuff we think about in Green Bay all winter. Good luck with yours.
 
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