|
Keel stuff in a mast thread....Sometimes you just gotta go with the flow Pete...It's a crazy world, at least it didn't digress to politics...
Anyway, I battled that keel problem for 4 years and finally gave up. I fortified the front keel housing with all new fiberglass (see my pics), but I still had water getting in the bilge. I think it comes through osmosis thru micro cracks in the 30 year old polyester hull/flexing. Soooo....I drilled 3/8 holes spaced about every 8-10 inches in the bottom of the hull in the false bilge (bulbous part). Drilled a 1.5 inch hole in the floor just behind the seat support/back end of the keel housing inside the cabin (that's a big void). Let it drain, put a small muffin fan with a 1.5" tube taped to it to force air through the false bilge for the winter. In the desert humidity is low..... Anyway, then I used the super-expando foam (3-4 cans)in a can from Home Depot (they have ~2:1 and ~4:1 expansion) and foamed the entire portion below until foam extruded from all holes. Cured it for 2 weeks and then tapered the holes and filled with fiberglass & epoxy.
For what its worth, I have a perfectly dry boat now (since I modified the keel winch placement) and I doubt I will ever see water in the false bilge because there is no place for it to go, even if it does, I am hoping the foam sealed the bare wood so I don't get rot, even if I do, it won't be in my lifetime. Case closed, good luck. Go sailing this weekend !!!
| 
Clipper Marine Forum
A Frame -- Vince -- 2/15/08 11:18a.m.
Raising a stable mast -- Greg CM26 Seattle CLM005771173 -- 2/16/08 12:58a.m.
-- Greg CM26 Seattle CLM005771173 -- 2/16/08 11:40a.m.
Keel dripping..... 
Clipper Photos