[Public-List] Encapsulated iron keel

[Rachel]

On Apr 7, 2011, at 6:08 AM, Peter Hurrey wrote:

> Rachael, really appreciate your help and those photos did help me. Does not
> seem that bad - how long did the job take you and was it expensive or not
> too bad? 

Peter,

Those photos were of Don Lang's boat, which is an "ex-liner" boat (and I believe yours should be a liner boat if it's up in the 500s for hull number).  My A-30 was the original style with a stick built interior, so I'm guessing it would not compare directly to yours.  Anyway, it was a rather painful process, as I chose not to remove the entire sole and sub-sole structures (which I don't think would be the same as your boat anyway), but instead to modify them for access.

As a part of the same project I dug out the "false bilge" filler aft of the keel and cleaned that area out - that dovetailed with encapsulating the ballast of course.  Since it's just past arm's length and narrow back there, it was quite a job.  Well worth it in the end though, in my opinion, as it resulted in a clean, smooth bilge, with a sump for the bilge pump, and an encapsulated ballast pig.

The one thing I might do differently if I were to do it again is that I might remove the sole/sub-sole to do the job; I'm not sure about that though.... just a thought.

It was not very expensive, as boat things go, since I did all the work myself.  Of course the materials weren't cheap, but compared to paying for labor... yes.  Basically: Sanding and grinding discs and paper, stripper, solvents, primers, paints, epoxy, biaxial cloth, FRP board, and then all the various paintbrushes, paint tray liners, Tyvek suits, gloves, squeegees, respirator cartridges, tape, etc. etc.  If I had to guess about all that... $500-$750?  My time was "free." 

Oh, but I forgot that I also removed the engine to get at the bilge/ballast.  Of course then while it was out it was logical to replace the cockpit drain and engine intake through hulls and gate valves with seacocks, new hoses, and clamps; paint the boat in that area; clean out around the shaft log and epoxy/smooth; install new cutless bearing, machine the stuffing box to match the stern tube, repack the stuffing box..... eh... since you are a boat owner, you know how that chain of events goes!

Rachel
ex-#221

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