Newbie needing advice on repairs

[iankenny]

OK, I'm a real newbie and need some advice.

Just purchased an old ply boat and somebody has put in a drop keel which shouldn't be there. I want to remove it but need to know how I go about repairing the slit in the bottom of the boat. I reckon I should be able to slot in a peice of 20 mm timber nicely, but need info on how to treat it prior to fixing, and how to seal it water tight after wards.

I know it is a lot to ask but any help, or pointers to other articles or websites would be much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Kristal]

I think the first issue here is to establish what sort of keel she ought to have on her, and whether one can be retro-fitted. I would guess that it could only be a fin keel, or bilge keels, and that both will require serious structural attachment to the rest of the boat.

With ply, I would imagine the best way to seal the repair would be with epoy (blast, I spilled 7-Up into my computer and broke the key between Z and C - sorry, you know what I mean) but it isn't something I know very much about at all.

 

[Porthandbuoy]

You should try those cans of diet coke, the ones without any sugar, the keys don't get nearly so stiky. Doh!

 

[tillergirl]

I think you've got to tell us a little bit more about the boat - what is she, size, intended use?

 

[iankenny]

She is about a 30 yr old 16 foot ply cabin motor-yacht (Hartley design).

Generally in pretty good condition - I've traced some of the history and know that she was raced for a while, hence the addition of the drop keel - but I also know that the keel isn't supposed to be there as the - besides which it is taking up a fair bit of space in the cabin.

I'm not into racing, I see myself using it mainly for a bit of river cruising, and besides which I want the cabin space back.

 

[tillergirl]

Presumably you have some form of keel to the front and rear of where this slot has been cut and you will want to replace that as well as fill the gap. I think it should be possible to fit an insert into the hole which also replaces the 'notch' cut in the keel. The insert should go through the slot and fill it flush to the level at which you have cut the centre-board box inside the hull. You could then cap the repair inside. Use epoxy for the glue and screw the infill into position while the glue sets.

If you e-mail these people - http://www.wessex-resins.com/, they will send you a free booklet on the use of epoxy for the repair of wooden boats.

Hope this helps

 

[Peterduck]

Your boat sounds very much like a Hartley TS 16 [TS being for Trailer Sailer] which has been converted to a motor boat later in its life. That would account for the prescence of a centreboard case and slot. I would think that a filler in the slot with a plywood cover above and below, the whole lot glued together should do the trick.
Peter.

 

[iankenny]

Thanks to you both Peter and Tillergirl. And I think you are most likely right peter - it is a TS16, do you know if the Keel was standard on these?

 

[chippie]

Hartley also advertised powerboats that used the same hull as the trailer sailers, they usually had a different superstructure, according to an old catalogue I read a while back.

 

[paulrossall]

Go on www.hartley-boats.com and click trailer sailers and some details of the Hartley 16, including plans, are there and there is also a link to a trailer sailer site. Is that your boat? Just been on the site re my posting on Samson 36. Paul

 

[iankenny]

Thanks for all your help everybody - I am pretty sure now that she is an old Hartley TS16, that has been converted to a cabin cruiser - the question now is
a) stick with the cabin cruiser, or
b) try and refit her with sails, or
c) perhaps try and do both?

 

[paulrossall]

If you want to use the boat just for river motor cruising then I would alter the boat to fit your needs. Your profile does not say where you keep the boat. If you are on, say, the Norfolk Broads then maybe you might want to sail some time in the future. If you are on a river where it is not practical to sail then maybe you should remove the centre board. If I were you I would use the baot this year as it is and then make any alterations next winter. Paul