void in keel?

[tlochhaas]

After 5 seasons of owning Allegro, 1971, #1240, I have just observed what seems
to be a hollow area in the keel aft and below the bilge area. I'd just pulled
for the winter and was washing out the bilge and letting the water drain through
the plug hole approximately halfway down the keel on the port side, when the
boatyard manager wandered by and starting thumping my keel. He was curious why
the drain hole was so high up, I said it was because that's where the bilge
bottomed out inside the hull and it was all encapsulated ballast below that, and
then he started thumping. The sounds indicated that forward of the drain hole
the keel is solid from top to bottom, but below the drain hold and aft, it
definitely sounds hollow. (I guess I never thought to thump this area myself!)
The boatyard manager asked how I could be certain that water didn't get into
that void and how to drain it if so to prevent freezing damage. So now I'm
mystified. Is there truly an airspace that low in the keel as it sounds? And how
would one ensure no water has penetrated it? Can anyone help?

 

[bbach1949]

Hello: Yes indeed, on my 1971 Vega (V1071) there is a drain screw lower down
on the port side. It's smaller than the bilge drain screw, just a #6 or #8
screw head really, and may be covered with bottom paint. I think it's directly
below the bilge drain and just a few inches above the bottom of the keel. I
only got a little bit of water to drain from that void when first hauled.
I'll be hauling out for paint in the next couple of months and will check it
then. I've never been certain as to the importance of keeping that void drained,
and anyway it would be impossible to monitor and pump. No blisters anywhere.
Bill Bach

 

[tlochhaas]

Thanks to Chris and others who answered my query about draining that extra keel
void in the early Vegas. I haven't had a chance to get to my boat yet to search
for that extra screw down below the regular bilge drain but will do so soon. How
great that this listserv has good archives and that some of you are keeping
track of key messages this way! I think I'll start keeping files of helpful
messages myself so that I too can share such information with others in the
future. Thanks again.

chris20636 wrote:

 

[towlerg]

Hi Nuutti,

I was interested to hear that you "... making a large hole.." in your
keel. How do you intend to make good (considering that work must be
done from the outside) after you have done remedial work?

Also, you found "..strange moisture in the aft part of the keel.."
was this coming thro the gel coat or is there a hole?

Rgds George.