SWING KEEL REPAIR

[TRANQUILO COSTA RICA]

BUSTED SWING KEEL,JUST BOUGHT A HUNTER 22'WITH BOTTOM HALF OF SEING KEEL MISSING.I MADE A PATTERN FROM PLYWOOD THEN CUT 2"X 24" X 5' TO FIT PATTERN.THEN WILL DOWELL WITH STEEL BARS INTO FOAM ON TOP HALF,EPOXY W/MAT TO HALVES TOGETHER,THEN LAY UP APPROX 1/4" OF MAT TN WIDENING STEPS THEN GALSS THE WHOLE THING. PLEASE HELP WITH ANY ADVISE. THANKS,TRANQUILO

 

[Fred]

Do you have access to plywood? It might

be easier than joining boards with steel rod. If you're going to glass over it anyway, how about more foam? Joining anything to the old foam, even with steel rods, will need the strength of the glass on the outside. be sure to grind the paint off the keel stub and get 6 or 8 inches of overlap of the new glass onto the stub.Instead of all mat, even in your first "ever widening" strips, alternate mat and cloth to add some strength. When you glass over the joint between the stub and your new keel, use as much cloth as you can. Mat then three or four cloths, then mat is OK.If you use roving, mat and two roving is a pretty good layup.

 

[pmhellings]

How about some weight?

If you're missing part of your swing keel, you're very likely missing some ballast too. I don't know about a Hunter 22, but most swing keel boats have heavy swing keels and usually the bottom half is the heavier part. You might want to consider adding some lead in that mix of wood and steel rods. A better idea might be to laminate plywood with spaces in the center laminate section for lead (or iron) weights. Then when you glass the whole thing up, you'll have your ballast well encapsulated and ample weight down low. Just a thought.Paul

 

[Mike]

no weight in the centerboard....

its all in the boat, BTW, since were talking about weight, you should weigh your keel after your done to make sure that the 1/4 bolts holding it to the boat won't be over stressed.

 

[ed]

get a real board for the boat,

the wood deal is not a good option in my opinion. you should spend the bucks and get the real deal.