Can metal leak out of a keel

[Gitane]

I have a slight problem in that my bilge Keel boat rests in the water at a slight angle to port, maybe about five degrees.

it is possible that I have more weight on the port side, as the battery, kedge anchor etc etc are all stored on the port side.

However, I also note that my port keel sounds solid when tapped, but the starboard keel sounds hollow.

Is it possible that the metal in the starboard keel, which gives the keel its weight, to rust and leak out?

If this is possible, how do you fix the problem?


gitane

 

[sailorman]

I have a slight problem in that my bilge Keel boat rests in the water at a slight angle to port, maybe about five degrees.

it is possible that I have more weight on the port side, as the battery, kedge anchor etc etc are all stored on the port side.

However, I also note that my port keel sounds solid when tapped, but the starboard keel sounds hollow.

Is it possible that the metal in the starboard keel, which gives the keel it's weight, to rust and leak out?

If this is possible, how do you fix the problem?
gitane

are the keels a moulded part of the hull, if so prol filled with "shot" & glassed over, rather than bolted on.
only you know the other weighty item positions

 

[johnalison]

I'm no engineer, but it would surely take hundreds of years for this to happen. I imagine to sound is different because the additional weight on one is stopping it from resonating.

 

[macnorton]

You could test it with a magnet, if wanted you could measure the force to remove the magnet with fishing scale.

 

[Corribee Boy]

It could even be the reverse: if the keels aren't completely packed with ballast but have some air space, and you've got a small hole in the (other) keel, then water can increase the weight of that keel.

 

[nigelm]

Vivacity 650 have encapsulated keels so I guess yr problem is most likely a case moving some stuff around internally to bring her back to a even keel .

For what it's worth my countess has a slight list to starboard when the water tank (under strbd bunk) is full , I just get first mate to sit on port side to even it up again

 

[Bru]

Brigantia, from the same stable but a teensy bit bigger, has much the same problem with a persistent and annoying similar list to port. This has been reduced by moving as much heavy stuff over to t'other side as possible but hasn't gone away entirely

It's only noticeable when moored up next to something vertical though so I kinda try not to let it bug me (hardly anyone else even notices but I have an eye for that sort of thing ... unfortunately)

I very much doubt if anything drastic has happened to your keels. In the unlikely event of water getting through to the encapsulated ballast and it rusting, the resultant expansion would blow the keel apart and you'd certainly know about it. The difference in sound is a puzzle though

Of course, it's not impossible that insufficient ballast was built into the starboard keel (or too much was put in the port keel even) during layup of the hull, not heard of this being a known issue with Russell Marine boats but it's certainly a possibility that can't be ruled out

I'm just going to do a bit more locker reorganisation and persuade her to stand up straight and behave

 

[MoodySabre]

Moody 31s don't sit level in the water either.

 

[sailorman]

Moody 31s don't sit level in the water either.

A Moody trait i believe the 34 is the same

 

[Gitane]

Thanks for the replies.

Sounds like I don't have to worry too much about this one.

I'll try moving some weight around to see if it makes a difference.

Gitane

 

[stevebrassett]

Leisure 23s do that as well. I thought it was just mine until someone said that they all do that.

 

[sailorman]

even new Oysters are trimmed on commissioning as all are bespoke thereby different gear in different places

 

[nigelm]

even new Oysters are trimmed on commissioning as all are bespoke thereby different gear in different places

"I say old boy , should one have the dishwasher to port and tumble dryer to starboard or vice versa"

"Put it next to the wine chiller my good man "

 

[sailorman]

"I say old boy , should one have the dishwasher to port and tumble dryer to starboard or vice versa"

"Put it next to the wine chiller my good man "

One does find this but not insurmountable, just throwing £s at the problem normally solves it