While we are on the subject.

[Don-MT]

of swing keels- I recently purchased a 1980 O'day 23. It has been kept inside on a trailer for over 10 years. There is a slight crack in what appears to be the puddle of resin next to the swing keel pendant tube under the steps. The crack is less than 1/4 inch wide. When I shine a light down the tube I can't see anything unusual (but visability is poor) The hull and keel itself look to be ok. i.e. no cracks, dings, or displacement from a hard landing. Three questions- 1) What caused this? b) Is there a danger of flooding when I launch next week? 3) Can I fill the crack with an epoxy or resin and feel good about the repair?Thanks!

 

[HukilauMike]

Is the crack inside the cabin?

If the crack you describe is inside the cabin, then it is unlikely that there is any chance of flooding. Construction of these boats is in essentially three pieces: hull, interior, and deck. A crack in the interior bulkheads or cabin sole will have no bearing on water getting in through the hull.

 

[r.w.landau]

Don, 1/4 wide or long

and if it is 1/4" wide, how long is it? Can you take a picture of it?r.w.landau

 

[Don-MT]

I should have been more clear

The crack is 1/4 " wide by 3" long. It's not in the hull liner but can be seen (when the steps are removed) next to where the pendant tube exits the bilge area into the keel(?) I'll post pictures tommorrow. Thanks

 

[r.w.landau]

Don, Hard to make out what I am looking at

I cannot see a NE to SW crack.I do see some fiberglass tape with what looks like a loose (raised) end just to the left and slightly up the picture.Is the brown color stained or is it the color of the fiberglass resin?If it is the color of the fiber glass resin, I think that it may have already been patched with epoxy. If it is stained, you will have to do a good cleaning job to get anything to adhere to it. I would clean it well then clean with acetone. Presaturate some fiberglass tape with epoxy ( has a better secondary bond than polyester resin)and wrap the area and the bottom end of the tube with the tape. Then make sure that the tape is completely saturated by applying additional epoxy to it. You want no white cloth or visable holes in the mesh.What is the clear fiberglass at the bottom right hand corner of the picture that runs from NW to SE?r.w.landau

 

[r.w.landau]

I printed the picture and can see it now.

It still looks to me like someone just poured some epoxy in there with no cloth of matt and didn't prep it first. It looks like it has lifted and algae is growing under it.The hull has a paint coating on it. If you would sand through the paint ( to get a good bond) all around this area and chip all of the loose stuff out. Clean it up and use fiberglass matt ( probably easir to work with in this situation) or some fiberglass cloth to repair it. Resin alone is probably why you have what you have now. I would use epoxy for the better secondary bond.Then again if it is not leaking and the tube is uncompromised, you just forget it and go sailing.However , I would take a little time and repair it.r.w.landau

 

[Don-MT]

Here's a Picture

This shot is taken with the top step removed. The crack in question is to the left of the swing keel pendant tube,running northeast to southwest relative to the picture. One edge of the crack (on tube side) is raised slightly (1/8" or less). What I would like to do is fill the crack with epoxy or resin and let it cure. But, I don't know if the construction of the keel makes this an option. The crack is near the water line and I want to make sure that this fix will not allow flooding to the bilge. Thanks for your help.Don

 

[Don-MT]

Does anyone know

the reason why the PO added the additional resin in the hull? Further inspection reveled that the resin was poured all along the bilge area, at least as far as was possible. When I pulled up the sole panels it was added there as well. Any ideas? Thanks r.w.landau for your input. I plan to lay a fibergalss matt in the area surrounding the pendant tube (when it warms up-30 deg and snow today) and launch next week. Thanks to all!

 

[r.w.landau]

Don, look close into the epoxy...

Look to see if the PO (previous Owner)added ballast. This would have been done by mixing lead shot and epoxy.Is this what he did?Please remember some of my previous advice... If nothing is compromised on the boat, sail it. That is why you bought it. r.w.landau