Space between hull and keel

[Plymouth Sailor]

I purchased my used Hunter 25, 12 years ago with a large space between the hull and keel. I filled the space with 5200, cranked the keel bolts the best I could and then matted and glassed the joint. I've had very little trouble with it since and have matted and glassed the joint three times since. I realized this creates an issue if I want to remove the keel however this is an old boat and I don't believe I'll ever spend the time and money to do so. Any thoughts on what I've done and issues with this solution?

 

[DianaOfBurlington]

I would have done just what you did (wait a minute; I did!) but would not have 'glassed over it. There is no point. This seam will always need to be flexible. The 5200 does just fine (it was factory spec). As a kind of experiment I kept troweling over epoxy-based filling compounds over mine, just anything that was left over in the cup from some other job(s), and found that as soon as the marina jocks picked up the boat on a trailer, the seam cracked. Some of this cracked much of the filler down along the faces of the (lead) keel as well. Lesson: let this seam be always flexible -- meaning 5200 only.

As long as you have sound keel bolts, adequate adhesion on the surfaces inside the seam, and plenty of ooze as the boat and keel were drawn together, you'll be fine. Logically you will see the best way to draw them together is not to pull up the keel but to set the boat down onto it. I did it this way and it's fine (after I ground out the cracks with the Dremel and filled them with 5200).

 

[Plymouth Sailor]

Thanks John, your extensive knowledge of boats and these boats in particular is greatly appreciated.

 

[DianaOfBurlington]