Categories: Repairs

Keel Repair Progress

Work continues on the damaged keel.

As a reminder, the keel kissed a rock in the Victoria, B.C. harbor in 2019. This was not the first time the keel has found a rock. I know of at least two prior incidents of keel-rock contact.

As we dug into the keel, we found that an unknown filler was used in the prior repair. The material is rubbery and elastic. If you press it with a fingernail, it returns to the shape it was. The rubbery stuff appears to cover a significant part of the forward part of the keel.

After talking to my contractor, I chose to stop exploring and button up the keel for now. The rubbery material appears to have been stable since the older repair was made. It looks like there is enough fiberglass thickness on top of the material to feather in a patch and get a good bond. So that’s what will happen and we’ll assess it again at haulout (or earlier if the diver notices something amiss).

Photo gallery

I will add photos to this gallery as the keel project finishes up.

20220609 Keel repair done
20220609 Keel repair port
20220609 Keel repair starboard
20220609 Running gear port
20220609 Running gear starboard
20220608 Bow view of keel repair
20220608 Keel repair close
20220608 Keel repair port
20220608 Keel repair starboard
20220607 Keel repair
20220607 Keel repair
20220606 Keel repair
20220606 Keel repair
20220603 Keel repair
20220603 Keel repair
20220601 Leading edge of keel
20220601 Keel damage closeup

Paints

Sea Hawk Cukote

The paint used for the bottom is Sea Hawk Cukote™, light blue #3442.

The prop and strut were painted with Pettit Prop Coat Barnacle Barrier.

Tom

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Tom
Tags: keel

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