My 2001 Hunter 260 spent its first season in the water last year(bought it as a leftover model) I'm prepping for getting the boat in and noticed that on what I can see of the leading edge of the keel nearest the bottom of the keel, the gel-coat has been worn away. The gel-coat is also worn off the bottom of the keel near the leading edge and there is a bit of material missing, making a "slot" in the center. I noticed after haulout that the bottom paint was worn away in this area and figured that because it was a leading edge, it would get the most wear, but I don't think that wearing the gel-coat away every year should be routine maintenance. To the best of my knowledge, based on my experience and inspection, I did not run the keel aground. The gel-coat is worn away in a feathered or faired manner that suggests that the wear is from turbulence, etc. Of course I found this only after the boat is out of warranty. Has anyone else had this problem or heard of it? Any suggestions?
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Mark
Same with mine
But it could not possibly be turbulance. I have never never ran her aground! In my dreams! For at some stage she must have glided along a sandy bottom to wear away the gelcoat without me knowing. Nothing else could have caused the wearing away of the leading edge and bottom of the Keel. Best thing to do is slap a bit of gelcoat over the exposed glass "or" just paint it with some quality hull paint to prevent the ingress of water for protection from water will prevent your keel from "disintigrating".
But it could not possibly be turbulance. I have never never ran her aground! In my dreams! For at some stage she must have glided along a sandy bottom to wear away the gelcoat without me knowing. Nothing else could have caused the wearing away of the leading edge and bottom of the Keel. Best thing to do is slap a bit of gelcoat over the exposed glass "or" just paint it with some quality hull paint to prevent the ingress of water for protection from water will prevent your keel from "disintigrating".
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Jeff Peltier
Annual spring touch-up
is part of my program. I do know that I find the bottom from time to time. I remove the keel support boards from the trailer for access to repair that area. Sometimes I add a layer or two of fiberglass to strengthen that area. Best to do it in the spring, so it's had a good chance to dry out.
is part of my program. I do know that I find the bottom from time to time. I remove the keel support boards from the trailer for access to repair that area. Sometimes I add a layer or two of fiberglass to strengthen that area. Best to do it in the spring, so it's had a good chance to dry out.
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Paul Akers
Ask Hunter
They would be aware of this "problem" and probably have some recommendations. Who knows, if there is a design problem, they may extend the warranty on that portion of the keel? Give it a try.
They would be aware of this "problem" and probably have some recommendations. Who knows, if there is a design problem, they may extend the warranty on that portion of the keel? Give it a try.
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crazy dave
Yu may disagree with me.
Anytime I see gel coat missing on the bottom of the center board, it usually means it has dragged on the bottom probably a soft bottom without you feeling it. This is what I have seen in the past. Gel coat simply does not fall off. True generally with the antifouling paint too.
Anytime I see gel coat missing on the bottom of the center board, it usually means it has dragged on the bottom probably a soft bottom without you feeling it. This is what I have seen in the past. Gel coat simply does not fall off. True generally with the antifouling paint too.
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Bill and Nancy Berg
Trailer?
Could the centerboard support on the trailer be rubbing off the gel coat? That sounds possible.
Could the centerboard support on the trailer be rubbing off the gel coat? That sounds possible.
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Greg Zigmont
Thanks to all
Thanks to all. The only thing that really stumped me on this was the way the bottom paint is worn off in a feathered fashion. Crazy Dave, your explanation is certainly plausible. I had just not considered it because I keep a keen eye on the chart, the GPS and I never felt it. But like you wrote it could be a soft sandy bottom. The gel-coat on both my keel and rudder do seem very thin and have a texture that has a resemblence to barrier coat paint. I've already added some epoxy to the keel, should be good to go. Thanks again!!
Thanks to all. The only thing that really stumped me on this was the way the bottom paint is worn off in a feathered fashion. Crazy Dave, your explanation is certainly plausible. I had just not considered it because I keep a keen eye on the chart, the GPS and I never felt it. But like you wrote it could be a soft sandy bottom. The gel-coat on both my keel and rudder do seem very thin and have a texture that has a resemblence to barrier coat paint. I've already added some epoxy to the keel, should be good to go. Thanks again!!
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Greg Zigmont
Jeff - how do you remove the boards?
Jeff, Thanks for your input. I can't figure out how to remove the board under my keel. Even when I crank the keel up as tight as I can with the winch, the keel still rests heavily on the board. The keel seems like it weighs a bit, I can't even shake it. What's your trick? Greg
Jeff, Thanks for your input. I can't figure out how to remove the board under my keel. Even when I crank the keel up as tight as I can with the winch, the keel still rests heavily on the board. The keel seems like it weighs a bit, I can't even shake it. What's your trick? Greg
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crazy dave
one more response
I will be referring to the stalks or the upright supports for the bunk boards. If you still have any left on all the bottoms, raise it an inch or two to raise the bunk boards off the centerboard tray. That tray is designed only for the centerboard to rest on not the weight of the boat. Take a good photo and post it here on the forum under a new heading to my attention
I will be referring to the stalks or the upright supports for the bunk boards. If you still have any left on all the bottoms, raise it an inch or two to raise the bunk boards off the centerboard tray. That tray is designed only for the centerboard to rest on not the weight of the boat. Take a good photo and post it here on the forum under a new heading to my attention
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Jeff Peltier
Greg
It sounds like the uprights for your bunks are a little low. Dave is correct in that the centerboard support is just for resting the centerboard and not for carring any of the boat's weight. You may have to raise all your bunk supports an inch or so, depending on how much pressure is currently being put on the centerboard support boards. I have about 1/2" clearence on my boards if I push the centerboard all the way up into the well. Hope that helps,
It sounds like the uprights for your bunks are a little low. Dave is correct in that the centerboard support is just for resting the centerboard and not for carring any of the boat's weight. You may have to raise all your bunk supports an inch or so, depending on how much pressure is currently being put on the centerboard support boards. I have about 1/2" clearence on my boards if I push the centerboard all the way up into the well. Hope that helps,
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Greg Zigmont
Thanks guys, I'll check
My trailer is set the way I received the package from the dealer. I'll check to see if the boards can be raised, but my belief has been that the bunk boards were at max vertical adjustment. I'll let you guys know. Thanks again for your help. I can usually engineer solutions on my own, but sometimes a little help from my friends is what the doctor ordered.
My trailer is set the way I received the package from the dealer. I'll check to see if the boards can be raised, but my belief has been that the bunk boards were at max vertical adjustment. I'll let you guys know. Thanks again for your help. I can usually engineer solutions on my own, but sometimes a little help from my friends is what the doctor ordered.
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Bill and Nancy Berg
Original trailer set up
We discovered that there was too much weight on the centerboard support the first time we launched the boat. (brand new) The wood was cracked down the center. We replaced it and after a few trips the new one was cracked,too. But we keep the boat in a slip most of the time now, so we only trailer once every year or so. If that changes we'll definetly raise the side bunks, but we sure hate to raise the weight any higher.
We discovered that there was too much weight on the centerboard support the first time we launched the boat. (brand new) The wood was cracked down the center. We replaced it and after a few trips the new one was cracked,too. But we keep the boat in a slip most of the time now, so we only trailer once every year or so. If that changes we'll definetly raise the side bunks, but we sure hate to raise the weight any higher.
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Greg Zigmont
raising the boards
Thanks for all the help. Crazy Dave-I'll send the photo in soon. There is about an inch adjusment at the top of the stalks underneath the boards. It will be difficult to raise the boards with the boat on the trailer, but I'm really strong, so I can do it.
Thanks for all the help. Crazy Dave-I'll send the photo in soon. There is about an inch adjusment at the top of the stalks underneath the boards. It will be difficult to raise the boards with the boat on the trailer, but I'm really strong, so I can do it.
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