[Public-List] Void in keel? Possibly or not?

[John via Public-List]

I have a liner boat, #679.  Is my only option to inspect this area through the hull??
John Irving

> On Feb 1, 2015, at 10:07 AM, Mike Lehman via Public-List <public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
> 
> Wes
> 
> Your boat (#397) may be a liner boat in which case access to the top of the keel is restricted by the liner. If you do not have a wood floor, but wood floor panels in a fiberglass floor, then you have a liner boat. Don't cut up the liner since it a structural component of the boat.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ~~~_/)_/)~~ Mike Lehman ~~_/)~~~
> 
> 
> -----Original Message----- From: Michael Connolly via Public-List
> Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2015 9:43 AM
> To: wesley sherman ; Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all
> Subject: Re: [Public-List] Void in keel? Possibly or not?
> 
> Wes,
> The lowest part of the bilge is just after the ballast stops, which as others have pointed out is just forward of the companionway steps where they contact the cabin sole. There is a lift off access panel exposing the forward end of the engine in that area which allows you to install and service a bilge pump. Then forward of this aft access panel I have three more access panels or hatches which allow access to below the sole. The aft & midships ones have a plywood bottom which serves as a shelf for storage. My storage/starting battery is located in the aft one. I have heard that there is some space below the plywood bottom above the keel but not much, i.e., a void. The forward hatch reveals only the top of the ballast just about two inches below the cabin sole.
> 
> I would never consider putting anything in these compartments that would permanently absorb water. I use an oil sponge in the aft bilge to help not pollute the water which is pumped over board.
> 
> For Winter storage I pump out the bilge dry and then pour a gallon of RV anti freeze into the bilge to, with hopes, be diluted by any rain or snow melt water which may find its way into the bilge over Winter. Some owners, I believe Gord has, have installed a gar board drain placed down low in the keel about a foot? forward of the rudder post. Thus any water which might get in will drain out, in theory.  In Winter this drain might freeze shut from time to time, but from time to time will unfreeze and allow any collected water to drain. I don't wish any "extra" holes in my bottom so I go the RV antifreeze route.
> 
> Yes the encapsulated keel is fully encapsulated,..................but in salt water boats especially, sometimes the upper surface fiberglass wrapped over the top becomes saturated with sea water and thus begins the iron corrosion. The iron corrosion continues until the expanded iron bursts through the fiberglass wrap. This also happens in sweet water boats but is a slower process. If you really wanted to be through, and I sense you do, I would remove the plywood bottoms in the cabin sole storage and inspect the top of the ballast and keel. I don't believe that you would have to tear up the cabin sole to inspect the entire top surface of the keel/ballast.  The best thing to do would be to thoroughly clean this area and make as water tight as humanly possible.  Thus sealing off any possibility of water seeping down inside the hull fiberglass and outside of the ballast.  Not to scare the begeebies out of you but I have seen boats whereby the "ballast pig" was popped up out of the fiberglass hull by the expansion of water between the hull and ballast. That would be the worst case scenario, but the second worst is not much better........... places in the hull adjacent to the ballast where the hull is burst due to the freezing water inside.
> 
> Hope this helps,
> Michael #133 1966
> ----- Original Message -----
> 
> From: "wesley sherman via Public-List" <public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
> To: public-list at lists.alberg30.org
> Sent: Saturday, January 31, 2015 4:42:12 PM
> Subject: [Public-List] Void in keel? Possibly or not?
> 
> Thank you all sharing information that you block  your keel to the rudder area as well.
> So there is in fact a void area there? As in the Tritons of this time period?
> Any one know how big it is.. or have a drawing of the dimensions?
> reason I am looking for information on this other than blocking the keel is that I have a photo from the previous owner of there being a small weeping trail of water after they pulled it out the last time.. approx 2' forward of the keel. making a puddle just under the keel and he notes it in a old journal i found aboard of general notes, places and things he wanted to do. He also felt there was a void in that area but had no information about it. so i did some googling and found that some of Albergs designs did in fact have some void near the rudder that could have been or was filled with epoxy and foam and could get water logged or hold water.
> Or in fact am I missing something and our encapsulated keel is in fact fully encapsulated?
> Thank you all!
> Wesley#397
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