Keel Hull Joint- Rebedding question

[mm2187]

About a month ago when I hauled my boat and put on the hard when resting the boat on the keel a small crack apeared and began a small stream of water at the keel hull joint. So i began poking at it until the area was exposted and found out that the sealant is no longer any good it easily came out of the seam. I removed the bottom paint to expose the leas/fiberglass around the area.

No the question. How would you go about putting it back together.

I was planning on using 3M-4200 on in the joint. a combination of west system epoxy fillers (high density at first then fairing) then barrier coat then bottom paint.

I have never done this before (and hope to never do it again) any ideas or anything i should look out for while doing the job?

[svHyLyte]

"Keel Smiles" are not an unusual occurrence and generally not a big deal. The primary issue is whether the water penetration damaged the studs/bolts that secure the ballast keel to the hull. It would be wise to contact Schock to get a read on how the keels are secured and suggested remedies before doing anything else. See W. D. Schock — Setting the Standard Since 1946 for contact information.

[hellosailor]

To really do it right (do it just once) you need to make sure there are no structural problems and if there are, correct them. Drop the keel, yes, drop it, at least enough so you can get in to fully access the joint and clean it down to bare hull and keel. Then apply 4200 or 5200, resecure the keel and let it cure. If this is done with 5200 and there are no structural problems, the 5200 alone can typically secure the keel even without keel bolts. (You won't want to even try separating it in the future if you use 5200. 4200, you'll only have to fight it.)

If you just "gob it in" without cleaning out and rebedding the entire joint, you'll probably have to keep fighting the leak forever.

[DelmarRey]

Originally Posted by svHyLyte

"Keel Smiles" are not an unusual occurrence and generally not a big deal. The primary issue is whether the water penetration damaged the studs/bolts that secure the ballast keel to the hull. It would be wise to contact Schock to get a read on how the keels are secured and suggested remedies before doing anything else. See W. D. Schock — Setting the Standard Since 1946 for contact information.

Agreed! A boat that size should never be leaking water. Once the keel is attached it should never have to come off again for many years.

Have you had any groundings? Do you take it off shore much? Is it anchored out much? All these contribute to extra forces on keels.