V21 swing / bilge keel?

[Ibbo]

V21 swing / bilge keel?
I have just joined this group after recently buying a Mac21' project boat, "Sol Lass" - an early one from the 70's I think.
My first and major problem to overcome is the steel plate keel and how it fits up into a 'skeg' (?) which seems to be made of glassed-in steel with steel pellets inside it. I have more photo's of this if anyone has any knowledge of it. Is it a unique owner mod? Is the keel swing pivot sealed into the 'skeg' - I'm not sure what to call this. It's nothing like the other boats I've found on the www or the V21 manual I downloaded.
The FibreGlass inside of the two 'skegs' has burst and rusty steel pellets are coming out, the 1/4" steel plate keel is pinched between the swollen glass fairing.

Cannot find any id plate or hull serial number on the boat; she spent some time at Deep River in Ontario in the 80's but has not been in the water in many years, and was stored outside uncovered at Sturgeon Lake.

Any ideas?

thanks,

Phil.

 

[Merlin Clark]

I remember reading Sean Milligan (founder and host of the Havasu Pocket Cruisers Convention) having this problem with his Montgomery 23. He cut access in the sides of the skeg, scooped the offending ballast out then laid in lead encased in epoxy.
I think he went this way because access from above was not good. I would cut into it from above (make sure of the location), chip/scoop the rusted and swelled metal out and this should allow the keel to drop. I'd use lead for new ballast.
"Bilge keel" boats have 2 fixed keels, 1 on either side, out towards the widest part of the hull

 

[finding41]

Ibbo: The original keel didn't have led pellets in it. \it was either one solid cast piece or flat steel with pieces welded to each side then wrapped in fiberglass. What you are finding is probably rust falling out. There is a thread somewhere on the macgregor owners site of the same repair. I think the guy was from Hawaii.
I hope you can get the keel to come out of the pocket it sits in when it is up.