Opinion needed on lead keel cracks.

[knothead]

Originally Posted by halekai36

Or on a PC using the free, much safer and option loaded MOZILLA FIREFOX! Why anyone would still use Internet Explorer is beyond comprehension for me....

That is the case. Sorry, I thought that they all did that.
I was convinced to use Firefox when I had to have my computer reformatted because of using IE.

[camaraderie]

Greg...hard to tell from the pix, but do you see any RUST at the hull/keel joint or on any of those bulges?
If you do...the only place it could be coming from is the embedded keel bolts which could have rusted out with water intrusion over the years. The bolt you can see in the bilge may look great on top and be nothing but rust below. Since steel expands as it rusts...that could explain the bulges. Solution would involve dropping the keel and a lot of work.
If no rust is seen, I'd just fair the keel/hull joint, and keel surface....slap on a few coats of epoxy barrier coat, then some bottom paint and go sailing.

[seafarerGreg]

G'day,

Well i was outside today and started to dig at the bulges, and got the grinder out as well. Turns out what the problem is (my best guess) is there are pockets of casting sand all along this one level of the keel. It must have been from where they stopped the first pour of lead in the mold and installed the keel bolts. Then finished pouring and some sand must have fallen in. it doesn't go in very deep.. about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch.


flickr.com/photos/23971349@N05/


I added a couple more pictures of where i have taken the drill and dug out as much of the sand as possible, and i will finish with the grinder when it stops raining.

in one of th new pictures you can see all the red sand everywheres....

Water must have gotten into the sand pockets and swelled.... or froze.

i will keep you updated as i go.

Does anyone know how long roughly the threaded rod for the keel tends to be?

thanks,
-Greg