Repairing Keel Extension

[Old Thady]

I have a 16-footer in the style of a West Country workboat made of epoxied ply.
There's an 'extension' to the keel to protect the outboard propellor. Apologies if there's a proper term of which I'm ignorant.
The boat lies on a swinging mooring. When I hauled her out last September, I noticed the damage shown in the photo (I think i managed to get a mooring rope wrapped around the extension at some stage).

I was planning to repair this by using a metal strip, bent to shape and bolted horizontally through the keel.

Do you think this is a good idea? What product is best for filling any gaps and preventing water ingress/rot?

 

[Tranona]

That looks like a metal strip that is probably screwed into the deadwood. Was the wood on top originally part of the deadwood? Most obvious thing to do is detach the strap, straighten it and re-attach using a sealant. An additional strap along the top and up the deadwood might be a good idea

 

[Wansworth]

Seems an odd extension just sticking out ,doyouhave photos of the rest of the underbody and rudder ?

 

[Poignard]

First thing to ask is do you really need it at all.

If not, cut off the keel band where the break is and make good the damage to the deadwood with thickened epoxy.(after drying the timber).

If you do need it, replace the weak broken piece with a much thicker length of hardwood, set into a long rebate cut in the deadwood, secured with s/s woodscrews and epoxy.

Then re-attach the metal keel band.

 

[yatnus]

I’d clean up the area first, then fill any gaps with thickened epoxy (like West System with colloidal silica). Then add your metal strip after it cures.

 

[oldbloke]

I can't see that that would protect anything, the keel deadwood will prevent you running it aground. I'm with Poignard's first suggestion and get rid of it

 

[KevinV]

I can't see that that would protect anything, the keel deadwood will prevent you running it aground. I'm with Poignard's first suggestion and get rid of it

It allows you to run over ropes without fouling the prop (or cutting the rope) - my little boat has similar between keel and rudder.

The one in the photo looks a bit feeble - I'd add straps left and right to mimic a "U" section

 

[Wansworth]

It allows you to run over ropes without fouling the prop (or cutting the rope) - my little boat has similar between keel and rudder.

The one in the photo looks a bit feeble - I'd add straps left and right to mimic a "U" section

That makes sense but a photo showing the rudder would be helpful

 

[Poignard]

6th

It allows you to run over ropes without fouling the prop (or cutting the rope) - my little boat has similar between keel and rudder.

The one in the photo looks as if it will allow you to run backwards over ropes and tear it off.

 

[Tranona]

Hopefully the OP will come back with more information and perhaps a photo showing a greater portion of the stern. He says it has an outboard engine, but presumably in a well, but not whether there is a rudder aft. While the extension is a good idea to deflect ropes underneath it is better if it also links up with the lower part of a rudder. If, however there is no rudder and steering is just through the outboard then the extension needs to be more substantial.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I am very doubtful of the utility of such methods of protecting propellers from lines. The one time I got a rope into the propeller was on a Halcyon 27, which has a long, deep keel with the rudder mounted on the back edge, and the propeller in an aperture between keel and rudder. It's hard to imagine a better protected setup! Systems such as this are probably more of psychological comfort than practical effect.

 

[Old Thady]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

At the moment, I'm tending towards the opinion of those of you who advise simply cutting off the extension. Maybe someone knows a good reason why I shouldn't do this?


I'm afraid I can't take a better photo now but here's one that gives an idea of the arrangement. The damaged part is just below the water in this shot. I think the builder's intention was to protect the outboard which sits in a well with the prop being just aft of the end of the keel and forward of the transom-hung rudder. The outboard can't be raised while in the well: it has to be in the 'down' position or lifted out entirely.

 

[Wansworth]

If the outboard can be lifted out if need be I would get rid of that extension ore likely do more damage to itself and the bottom of the keel.Dry out fill any holes and refasten with screws into bottom of keel.All depends if the keel is solid or not…..there are more qualified than meto suggestagood repair

 

[Hacker]

If the outboard is in a fixed position when in use the I think the keel protection is a good idea. It will stop you for damaging the prop. Just needs to be a bit stronger. You could use the existing piece of wood but put stainless straps on the top and bottom (as well as a good strong glue on the cut surfaces. If it were mine I think that I would scarf a wider piece into the existing keel.