Keel repair.....

[clayjay]

My keel has an opening at the keel/stub connection that runs from the tail edge almost to the rear bolt......about 6" long and tapering from 1" - 1/8" in gap. Should I laminate some glass mat in there or simply fill it with a high density filler as suggested by the surveyor ?

It seems a big gap to plug with filler to me but I'm open suggestions.

[Gary M]

Did your surveyor suggest that you check the torque on your keel bolts ? You need to do that first, then a high desinty filler should do the job. I have used Marinetex for that, it is a high strength epoxy filler. Just smooth it very close to the actual shape you want as it is hard to sand.

Gary

[sailingdog]

ClayJay-

It would be wise to find out why you have an opening there. Is it because the keelbolts have rusted through and only a few are left holding the keel on? Is it because the stringers that the keelbolts have been bolted through have delaminated and are being crushed? Rather than just filling it and hoping for the best... i would recommend you find out what is causing the gap in question. Might save you and your boat a lot of grief—monohull sailboats that lose their keels don't sail very well.