O'day 302 lost keel

[US27inKS]

Originally Posted by blt2ski

I would say you "ARE" ready to deal with the consequences as Mainesail said. ie lose a summer of sailing. UNLESS, do yards work in the winter back that way? in that case, tighten the bolts when you pull the boat, then fix over winter. To me, that would be the better option.

Marty

Waiting until winter and risking the loss of a keel is a better option? If I knew that my boat had a known problem with keel loss while sailing, I would rather torque the bolts and be sure. I'm fairly risk tolerant, but this seems like a no brainer.

[blt2ski]

I was in the "assuming" you are in the water now. Try torquing this fall when you haul out vs waiting until spring before launch. "IF" you are STILL on the hard, torque the now and see what happens.

If you torque this fall, and things are screwy, you can get the work done this winter, assuming yards are able to work etc etc

Marty

[US27inKS]

I took my camper to the lake this morning in order to claim a camping spot early before they fill up. The salvage crew had just pulled the boat out of the water when I arrived. I took a look at the keel stub. It looks like the laminate failed at the bottom of the keel stub. The sides of the keel stub are in good condition, but the bottom is gone. There is enough fiberglass left in some areas to show that at least some of the keel bolts were pulled through the laminate, nuts and washers included. I suspect that there may have been wood filler in the layup, but I can't be sure at this point.

I'm heading to the lake after work, and I'll take my camera. Should be able to upload some good pics on monday.

[bubb2]

John, thanks for keeping us informed. I just moved a 323 O'Day for the owner yesterday. You bet I was thinking of this thread.

[sailhog]

John,
Thanks for the post.

Has anyone heard of any C30s losing their keels due to crevice corrosion?

[dave6330]

Do you have to worry about this kind of nightmare with boats with encapsulated keels (I just bought a Pearson 365)?

[sailingfool]

Originally Posted by US27inKS

... It looks like the laminate failed at the bottom of the keel stub. The sides of the keel stub are in good condition, but the bottom is gone. There is enough fiberglass left in some areas to show that at least some of the keel bolts were pulled through the laminate, nuts and washers included.....

It seems you are saying that the keel bolts weren't the source of the failure, it was the layup of the bottom of the keel stub that failed? Interesting for sure. good luck eye-balling for this weakness...assuming there was wood in the layup, then that would sound like a construction red flag for boat buyers to watch for.

[sailingdog]

Nah, you just have to worry about water getting into the encapsulated ballast and causing corrosion or damage to the hull causing the ballast to leak out the side instead.

Originally Posted by dave6330

Do you have to worry about this kind of nightmare with boats with encapsulated keels (I just bought a Pearson 365)?

[US27inKS]

Originally Posted by sailingfool

It seems you are saying that the keel bolts weren't the source of the failure, it was the layup of the bottom of the keel stub that failed? Interesting for sure. good luck eye-balling for this weakness...assuming there was wood in the layup, then that would sound like a construction red flag for boat buyers to watch for.

I can't say for sure whether the keel bolts were at fault or it was the layup. The layup sure looks suspect to me, but I can't say that he didn't break a couple of bolts, then the remaining bolts may have overloaded the laminate. Unless we see the keel (fat chance) we may never know. If the laminate were a problem I would think that torquing the bolts would compress the laminate and make me want to drop the keel just as much as if I had broken a bolt.

[US27inKS]

As promised, I got pictures. I intentionally left them very large so some of you FRP laminate experts can see detail.

I didn't see any evidence of wood in the layup, but it looks as though some of the layers could have been dry. Someone take me to school regarding what is wrong with this hull.