weeping keel 1980 30' CB O'Day

[theoldsailor]

I have noticed some weeping on the aft bottom corner of the keel, both in the spring and upon coming out in the fall, when my ship is on the hard. I am new to this boat. Am thinking of drilling into the aft section of the keel to help dry it out. Any suggestions?

[deniseO30]

Not familiar with the CB version, my fin keel weeps a very small amount of water while on the hard too. I've just assummed it's bilge water infiltrating the "encapsualted" keel Somday I'll epoxy the bilge since it has a few cracks in it.
Can you take pictures?

[theoldsailor]

Thanks for your response. I won't have a pic 'til Nov. BUT, you raise another problem. My bilge is very shallow and the manual pump is, to say the least, troublesome. ....
I will send along a pic as soon as I have one. Enjoy the day....

[sailingfool]

It is pretty common for water to collect in a hull/keel joint, and to weep out for a week or two after hauling. Most likely any apparent weeping in the spring is rain water, either collecting at the top of the keel, then weeping, or just re-wetting the old stain. If the water were coming from the bilge, you would see sea water collecting in the bilge while afloat.

Clean the area and epoxy, use a layer of glass if you have to do it more than one season.

[theoldsailor]

thanks for your response. I don't think that the spring weeping is rain water since it weeps for more than a few days each of the 2 springs that I have owned the boat. However, I guess that it is possible. That point of weeping is beginning to feel soft.