Colvic Sailer 29 - Keels, Rudder and Deck construction questions

[Samosun]

Hi, I've just bought a 1980 Colvic Sailer 29 and am very happy with her Currently out of the water for a couple of weeks to do some bits and bobs.

Even though they are pretty common there seems to be next to no information about these boats construction other than solid, stable, safe.....which is how every bilge keel from the 70's and 80's seems to be described. I was hoping there might be some people who have owned or worked on them and could answer some questions....

Keels
I know these are encapsulated and from what I can find iron/steel was used as ballast. Does anyone know what form this was in? Was it small pieces 'potted' with resin? are they solid cast lumps? There is a small slightly messy repair on the front bottom of one keels which a well know surveyor mentioned in the survey but that was it. Clearly it didn't concern him. but it doesn't look to me like it's completely watertight so wondered if it's worth grinding back and doing a better job with epoxy or just leaving it for another year.

Rudder
Does anyone know the construction of these? I assume it is a solid steel shaft with 'paddles welded on, and then a fiberglass shell with some sort of filler (foam probably?) It's a bit tatty and again mentioned in survey but just saying 'keep an eye on it'. I can't say it worries me but I'm curious if anyone knows for certain how they are constructed.

Deck
Does anyone know if the deck is cored and if so where and what with? The deck is very solid everywhere except for a section between the bow hardware and the coach roof. There is no cracking, just slight flex with my 90kg bouncing on it. there is also no hardware or holes in this area for direct ingress. It feels more like there is solid core or thicker layup under the windlass, cleats etc and just thinner layup where there are no fittings in the deck.....or maybe it's is rotten ply core? Again I can't say I'm that bothered, but curious if anyone has drilled into these decks and knows the construction in different areas.

I'm planning on keeping her for a long time so really trying to understand the construction and find out what needs doing now and what can be done at a later date when I haven't just blown all my money on a boat Thanks in advance for any answers.

 

[smithy]

Some of these were home completed others fitted out by boatyards so what's inside the keels could vary. The rudder had two tangs on it the bottom one set in solid resin. The top of the rudder was unusual and difficult to explain but I could sketch it out for you. My rudder stock was originally mild steel, no foam inside.
The deck is balsa cored, if you take down the headlinings on a sunny day you will be able to see where. They are solidly boats. I have done a lot of work on mine so know it well. PM me if you need help.

 

[C08]

I have been on a few Colvics and overall been impressed with substantial construction however I did come across a Countess 33 in Wales where one of the twin keels had folded underneith whilst dried out on soft sand. The hull was transported to Dickies Boatyard where my boat was and the keel was retrieved to be refitted. The broken layup where the keel stub moulding joined the hull was appallingly done with very few layers of matting and areas of dry and unsaturated matting and cloth.
This was clearly an unusual manufacturing probem and I do not think it reflects generally on Colvic hulls and I would be happy to own one but if I did I would do some very close inspection of the hull in the areas where the keels join to the hull.
I thought long and hard before posting this as maybe some Colvic owners may take exception to my post but it is clearly something for a new owner to check out thoroughly and then look forward to years of good sailing.

 

[Samosun]

Thanks for your answers!

Some of these were home completed others fitted out by boatyards so what's inside the keels could vary.

I was aware most were home completed. I’m sure mine was. Would the keel ballast not have been in place when supplied? I had assumed it was Hull, ballast and structural bulkheads and the rest was done by the owner/boatyard.

 

[Samosun]

I did come across a Countess 33 in Wales where one of the twin keels had folded underneith whilst dried out on soft sand. The hull was transported to Dickies Boatyard where my boat was and the keel was retrieved to be refitted. The broken layup where the keel stub moulding joined the hull was appallingly done with very few layers of matting and areas of dry and unsaturated matting and cloth.

Bit worrying.....however as you say probably a manufacturing defect. Still, enough to make me do a little research. Reassuringly Countess 33 and Colvic sailers had different designers and the Countess had splayed keels and the Sailer has basically vertical keels. I appreciate this may not be quite as good for performance but the forces on the vertical ones when drying out must be significantly less!