I have just has a survey done on a 40.5 Hunter. It has a working crack seen on the trailing edge of the hull to keel fairing joint. This is a Wing Keel design. This appears to be above a section of the keel that is “joined onto the back” to maintain the flow of water made of fiberglass or plastic. It is a hollow section that sits on the wing at the bottom and is the full height of the keel. Where it meets the hull it appears to have a fine crack limited to its width only. Is this a concern or normality? This hollow section also has two 1/8" holes drilled - one at the top (air) and one at the bottom (drain). Are these also normal??
Wing Keel Crack
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Quite normal. It is intended as hollow by design which fills with water (and drains) via the holes you mention. As it is not structural, I would say the crack is of no concern as long as the keel stub (forward of that area) is sound. Open and fair the crack with the proper fairing compound, sand and you should be good to go.
It was designed and all 40.5s were built that way Franklin. Makes for better hydrodynamic design of the keel foil
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