wing keel cracks 1991 hunter 18 ft

[kamcanon]

I am looking to purchases a 1991 Hunter 18, the boat and sails are in good shape the keel however is the question. I am including some pic’s. I can’t tell if these cracks are run along a seem that attaches the keel to the bottom of the boat or if the keel itself is cracked. I would appreciate any thoughts on this.

 

[CHM]

If you are serious about the boat, get a thorough marine survey. Perhaps some one else have a better idea regarding the keel, but it's hard to tell what's going on from a picture.

 

[Cayennita]

Keel to boat attachment. Lead does not crack in such a straight line, Specially if it's the same on both sides. Many sailors will take a shallow draft boat a little too far into shallow water. Because of the wing keel, you have a very effective plow anchor. It will get stuck in the mud or sand and only by rocking the boat while motoring, you'll get it out of that situation. It puts stress in the joint and create what you see in the picture. Check the keel bolts with a torque wrench. You can get the values from that size bolts from many sites on line.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

can you see the bolts holding the keel on (under the floor boards).

it would have to be pretty cheap for me to buy that.... run forrest!

lead is very expensive today, probably iron. (and lead doesn't rust)

(keels are stolen... for scrap value too. )

 

[shemandr]

It looks like that's the seem between the hull and keel If so its not necessarily a deal killer You would grind the fairing off and redo A backache but not a structural weakness The keel on my Hunter attaches to the hull on a projection from the hull bottom in the same fashion I'll send pics if I ever get the off my cell

 

[Cool Beans]

LoL. . .I have $4383 hanging from the bottom of my boat. . .a little over a 1/3 of the purchase price


The crack doesn't scare me, but the rust does. If the keel is lead, then the rust is from the bolts dissolving

 

[shemandr]

Please don't part out that GOB!

 

[Fly_H23]

Ask the seller to let you or help you grind or wire brush off a little of that bottom coat along the crack. Likely, the cast iron keel wasn't fully prepped before that paint went on and it's showing thru where it bolts on to the keel stub. I've seen this on similar Hunter 18-23' boats.

If the inside is dry, dump a gallon of water inside the bilge where the keel bolts are and see if it seeps out the crack. If water leaks out, it's a sure sign the boat will leak when launched too!

Negotiate a lower price as if you are going to pay someone to patch up and repair the keel.

 

[CaptDon01]

That Hunter has a cast iron keel. To do it right, it's a fairly big job.

Don