Westerly keel rebedding on the West coast?

[GTom]

I think our Discus needs a good keel rebedding. Ha anyone recommendations for this kind of job on the West coast? The boat is in North Wales now but I am willing to move her if the experienced hands are further away.

 

[Graham376]

Are you looking for someone to do it or, a yard for DIY? I did our Berwick keels in Dinas boat yard. As the stubs needed reinforcing the job was overseen by Mark McGarry surveyor who lives locally. If you want someone to do it, Dickies or ABC Marine come to mind, both located in Menai Straits.

 

[GTom]

Thank you Graham, I'll leave it to a pro, I'll check the situation again and contact them. Last year, before we lifted the boat, there was a considerable amount of water in the bilge, which I haven't identified the source, first suspect is the old hull-keel joint.

 

[Pagetslady]

Hi have you considered other more likely places the water has come from, is it sea water, Westerly's on my Corsair drained the anchor locker into the bilge, the fridge drain is led to the bilge, fresh water tank on mine had a leak, I removed my keel some years ago, because I thought the bolts were letting in water, there was no sign of any water passing the sealant, I still get some water in the bilge no matter what I do I mop it up as best I can I put it down to condensation. I have had my boat for 27 years I have had the problem since I bought her. Before dropping the keel check every possibility it's a major job getting the keel off mine hung for days held just by the sealer it had to be forced off with wedges. If it is deffinetly sea water it might be the anchor locker chain draining, only if you anchor often though. Stern gland although my engine has its own bilge which doesn't drain into the main bilge. Check all seacocks and skin fittings hoses before resorting to keel dropping. I have just had another thought, if you are using the bilge pump to empty the bilge, once you stop pumping the water in the pipe up to the skin fitting comes back into the bilge unless there is a non return valve at the bottom of the pipe, mine doesn't so it is impossible to completely remove all water I use a sponge.
Mike

 

[GTom]

Thanks Mike! I'll check once she is back in the water.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Thanks Mike! I'll check once she is back in the water.

As a fellow Discus owner, i'd echo all of Mikes comments in post #4. Whilst not impossible, i'd be really surprised if the keel bolts let water in, mine are thoroughly encapsulated in resin.

 

[Boathook]

First is it fresh or saltwater? Both can come in through the hull deck joint depending on construction. I had leaks on mine and it took a long time to find the source. Use of talcum powder to trace leaks does help as well.

 

[GTom]

As a fellow Discus owner, i'd echo all of Mikes comments in post #4. Whilst not impossible, i'd be really surprised if the keel bolts let water in, mine are thoroughly encapsulated in resin.

As I recall, Westerly recommends the keels to be rebedded in every 20ish years, mine hasn't been touched in the past 38. True however, that I didn't see salt deposition anywhere in the bilge, I'll taste the water when I get back to the boat. It might well be rainwater just need to figure where it is from...