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

[Anders Bro via Public-List]

Hi Wesley,

I also have a Pearson Ariel, and that one (also an Alberg design) does 
have a void in the area that you are concerned with. In my version of 
the Ariel it was "sealed" with what looks like polyurethane foam. When I 
went to the handbook that was written by Ariel owners, they mentioned 
that this foam filled void could get waterlogged by slow seeping/osmosis 
through the fiberglass. Last summer, I did some investigations, and 
found that sure enough the void was totally soaked! I opened up a large 
hole in the side of the keel just forward of the rudder attachment 
points, and as low as I could go, and scooped out huge quantities of 
waterlogged foam. I was concerned more from the perspective of freezing 
and thus damaging the integrity of the hull/keel. Interestingly this is 
not the first time this has been a issue with this particular boat, as I 
also found a lot of filled holes near the base of the keel that clearly 
had been used for water drainage in the past. (foam had been re-injected 
as well).

As a more permanent fix, I will be installing drain plug so that when I 
haul the boat I can drain it before the freezing weather hits. I will 
also get rid of the foam and thereby a very heavy sponge in the keel! 
(hm... would this add stability?!)

I hope this experience is of some help. Oh - by the way you should be 
able to tap the keel and identify the location of the void by the more 
boomy hollow sound.

Anders

On 01/31/2015 04:42 PM, wesley sherman via Public-List wrote:
> 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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