O'day 302 lost keel

[Maine Sail]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

The glass looks fine, not starved of resin... and the washers aren't cupped. There's also no stress cracking in the bilge or on the bottom of the keel stub that I was able to see. It was unusual to see the 5200 let go of most of the surface area without a fight...

Not uncommon for the factory workers to not clean the mold release wax from the hull...


As I understand it these boats were modified during production to address some stub/keel issues but I have no real confirmation of this and only hear-say from some owners. They were apparently also built under different companies too.

I would check the actual thickness of the keel stub.

On this boat it was not very thick.

[sailingdog]

Mainesail—

My understanding is that the keel had been removed and re-bedded by the previous owner, who had broken the fourth keel bolt, which is significantly smaller and weaker than the other three. I think the keel stub on this boat is a good deal more substantial than the one shown in your photo.

US27inKS—

I agree, taking a core sample would be a good idea, or at least dropping the keel entirely and looking in the existing bolt holes.

I also spoke with the lift operator and he clarified that the keel wasn't wobbling, at least not noticeably, but that there was a slight gap in between the keel and the keel stub. I believe the slight gap was due to the 5200 having pulled out of position due to the inadequate surface preparation. The reason I think that the boat did not leak to any major degree is that the keelbolts were keeping the 5200 under compression and it was effectively working as a gasket while the boat was in the water.

I would be very surprised to not see any stress cracks in the laminate if the keel was moving to any significant degree. It is a very heavy wing-keel casting, and has very significant forces on it when the boat is under sail or when the boat goes aground...which I believe Denby did do this past season...at least once or twice...

[denby]

I hit a rock 2 summers ago. Never had water coming in from keel.

[mintcakekeith]

Testing in situ keel bolts with a torque wrench tells you nothing except perhaps that it is corroded in place. the only way to check keel bolts is to draw them, visualy inspect and if stainless give them a good smack with a large hammer.check lubricated bolt for correct torque on reffiting.