Keel Damage on a prospective buy

[James W]

Hi guys,

I've been to look at a boat that has a bit of damage to one of the bilge keels. It's a Hurley 24 and so I know it's been built pretty sturdily but how much work do you think this would take to fix, and how much of problem do you think it would be?

The boat was on a trailer and so I couldn't get a better shot of the problem unfortunately!

I'm pretty practical and have no problems with gelcoat and fibre glass but do you think I should maybe give this one a miss?

Thanks!

 

[Tranona]

Repairing the GRP is not a big problem, but you need to find out what the ballast is inside. If it is steel punchings then water could have got in and started to rust, which causes it to expand and could split the moulding further.

 

[James W]

One more point, she's been out of the water for 2 years, would this have helped the cause at all?

 

[Tranona]

Then any serious rust would be showing by now. You need to grind back the damage to make sure there is something solid to build your repair on. If that is the only bad bit and it is cheap, probably worth giving it a go if you feel up to the work.

 

[James W]

That is the only bad bit but it's not exactly cheap......just good value!

I'll have another good look and see if the damage stops there.

Thanks Tranona.

 

[Caer Urfa]

Hi guys,

Hi James

Suggest you contact my mate Nick Vass who is Technical Advisor to the Hurley Owners Assoc at nick@hurleyownersassociation.co.uk

He knows all the Hurley boats inside out and is also a surveyor so I am sure he will tell you what's best.

Mike

 

[Bosun Higgs]

The GRP work required to sort out that keel is a simple DIY job.

 

[exfinnsailor]

Don't forget to use EPOXY Resin for the repair it sticks better than POLYESTER

 

[Colvic Watson]

Having recently had a surveyor look at keel damage, there has to be very long term exposure to water for the iron ballast to expand. It was rusty when it went in so you are checking for years of subsequent exposure of the ballast - though the surveyor said it was extremely rare, the trouble is, will the present owner just tell you what you want to hear?

 

[Pasarell]

The ballast in Hurley keels is lead. On some boats, however, it was held in place with iron band apparently and they can swell if allowed to corrode and cause the keel to split. When I bought a fin keel H24 a few years ago the keel was damaged at the forefoot and water was seeping out at the end of a winter ashore. I was advised to do a quick temporary repair for the upcoming season then cut away the damaged area the following winter and allow to drain thoroughly before a proper repair. I did as advised and no more issues, including from the next buyer a few years later. There was no sign of any iron bands swelling on my keel.

 

[James W]

It's looking like a goer at the moment then!

I will have to do stretch a bit with the money until I sell the old boat but it's looking good!

Thanks guys for all your help.

James

 

[William_H]

Keel damage

If you are anything like me over a lot of years of ownership of the same boat I have often damaged the keel in this way myself. Mine is f/g on lead and no problems with many repairs over many years. So buy it and get used to doing the repair yourself. Next time you crash into something hard you won't be nearly so worried. good luck olewill