|
|
Post by panoramix on Jul 3, 2015 9:25:00 GMT
When i hauled my boat this year, i discovered some cracks and rust on my keel. It looks like the cracks are in the area where the bilge is located. Somehow seawater has made its way inside and started the rust. The rust is only on the starboard side of the keel. I am not sure how to fix this problem and i am open for your advice. Or maybe one of you has already dealt with this issue and knows how to fix this. My current plan is trying to remove the bilge sidepanel by cutting this part out of the keel. Then see what is behind this panel and how i can clean this and make it watertight again?  www.panoramixopzee.nl/pictures/Keel%20rust%20problem%201.jpgThe big picture.  www.panoramixopzee.nl/pictures/Keel%20rust%20problem%202.jpgAnd a closeup from the bilgepart.I am open for your suggestions! |
|
|
|
Post by vasko on Jul 3, 2015 12:28:58 GMT
is this copper coat ? and can the cracks be only in the coating ?
i'm nor really sure how you can get cracks in the metal of the keel at all ?
did you had some heavy grounding?
in all cases it seems you will need to strip the keel and the bounding between the keel and the hull of any coatng etc. to see exactly the extent of the cracks... they may be just in the coating and you will get away with just new coating...
|
|
|
|
Post by ianpowolny on Jul 4, 2015 9:07:02 GMT
If this is due to grounding does your insurance cover the inspection costs - yours does? From the photos I'd say you need to get a surveyor involved and speak to your insurance company. After the issues with keel attachments over last few months/years insurance companies are very sensitive to this type of problem and without involving them you may have insurance problems later. Looks like a shipwright job to me. Ian
|
|
|
|
Post by On y va on Jul 4, 2015 9:42:37 GMT
I fully agree with Ian. This is not going to be solved by some advise on a forum. As it could also be electrolyses, which has affectedthe keel bolts. And if the insurers appoint a surveyor, make sure you have your own surveyor. I have this sort of thing at hand several times. Let the surveyors fight it out.
|
|
|
|
Post by vasko on Jul 4, 2015 12:43:51 GMT
Surveyor is a must !
I was asking for the copercoat as on my previous boat with copercoat we had very similar looking cracks which turned out to be just in the copercoat and the base under the copercoat, but still needed repair and the main issue was water entering between the epoxy layer the metal keel from the joint between the keel and the hull - we changed the keel bolts and the material between the keel and the hull and repaired the cracks - was not e very expensive job - couple of hundred of pounds...
|
|
|
|
Post by panoramix on Jul 4, 2015 18:04:31 GMT
Thans for the advise. The hull is with coppercoat, so it might just be some rust between the epoxy layer and the keel. The long dark track on the keel is just a waterdrip. The 'crack' is only 8" long from the hull down. I found it curious that the outline of the cracks are precisely where the bilge is located. Maybe you know that in the SO37 there is a small bilge made in the hull-floor. It is about 5 x 8" and 8" deep. So there must be a open space in the keel where this glassed in bilge will fit. My guess is water ingress in this space causing the rust. And yes, I did have groundings in the past. A year ago I strengthened the keel bonding to the hull. This repair is also documented on this form. link to keel repair job.All keel bolts were removed in that process and all came out nice and shiny. So the bolts where never in contact with seawater. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2015 16:54:39 GMT
There is another one with a SO37 on this forum that had the idea to smoothen the difference in thickness between keel and where the bilge is. On our SO37 you can clearly locate the bilge. Apparently with your keel this is flatened with filler as well. I think that this filler is somehow cracked. I really do not advise you to open up the side off the bilge area but start removing the filler and see what is behind.
Now I know for certain I will never fill this gap to smoothen it in line with the keel.
|
|
|
|
Post by panoramix on Jul 8, 2015 10:15:46 GMT
Thanks Marien! I found the topic with a lot of good pictures of that keel box indent where the bilge is located. I have my SO37 now for 12 years and i always thought that the keel was 1 piece of metal. From the photo's in that topic i can now see that it is probably not. When i get back to my boat, i will further examine this area.  Photo taken from the topic bilge pump keel box indent |
|
