Cruising Sailors Forum Archive

Keel help...

I've got a bit of a keel problem, and don't exactly know how to tackle it. At present my boat is a lawn ornament in my back yard and has been for a couple of years. I live in Montana, think little to no rain, low humidity. I noticed some of what appeared to be surface cracks in the keel, so started exploring. It looks like the keel has delaminated from the lead ballast. Keel bolts are good and there isn't the "Catalina smile. I was considering injecting epoxy into holes to fill the void in the keel, grind out the cracks fill and fair. I took it to the boat ship for them to do. They started looking and took out a BF chunk of filler, over an inch thick and then thinner in other areas. The options I see are not good. The first is to peel the keel to the lead ballast, rebuild with fiberglass to the correct shape, fair etc. The problem I see with that outside the cost is that I'd lose the keel shape and I'd think change the COE The second is to do what I first thought, inject epoxy, grind the cracks, fill and fair. Third is to inject the epoxy, grind fill an fair, then put about 5-6 layers of glass over the keel, fair etc. And as ugly as the 4th option is, junk the boat. Suggestions? or a boat yard that I might be able to contact to ask what to do? I'm a poor displaced farmer so am not too afraid to tackle most anything, have or can get the tools, and not afraid to use them Any help is sincerely appreciated.

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