Sealing the gap between keel and hull

[ba1dy]

I have a Hunter 19 and last season it became apparent that sea water was entering the keel casing (the compression post penetrated the keel casing) although we could not see a crack externally where the keel goes through the hull.

On getting her out you could see a small crack and rust stains followed around the keel where it goes through the hull.

The gap between the hull and keel was filled with a hard setting filler of some sort possibly epoxy, but this had degraded over the years and that was letting water up into the keel casing.

I have now raked all this out, but I am now left wondering what the best thing to re fill the gap would be?? at the aft end where the keel passes through the hull the gap is a good 20 - 25mm (1") and along the sides 2 - 5mm.

Has anybody got any knowledge of the Hunter 19 and this problem or what best material to use?

Thanks

Bryan /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[Cloven]

Have you tried flagging this up on the Hunter Association website

www.hunterassociation.org.uk

Might be worth a try.

Another possible contact might be Andy Cunningham who worked for Hunter:

http://www.andycunninghammarine.co.uk/

He is in business for himself now but may be able to assist.

 

[oldharry]

Hunter Association as Dave suggests. Generally speaking, this suggests the keel is loose and moving slightly. If the keelbolts are accessible see if they are slack/ can be tightened. If so, you will almost certainly have to drop the keel and replace whatever sealing gasket or compound has fallen out.

If there is movement, anything you put in now will very soon be destroyed and fall out again. Unless Hunter experts know otherwise!