Mark Roberts
E34-200 Kingston, Ontario
I have a deformed wing keel from a rock impact many years ago. It is a fairly significant bend upwards at the aft end of the wing on the starboard side. There is also a bend on the port side but not as severe. The impact happened about 25 years ago when my father owned the boat. We have sailed her in this condition ever since. The keel bolts appear fine. The bolts I have easy access to are secure with no evidence of any issues. I have her on the hard at my property so I have plenty of time to work on this issue with access to tools that I may need.
I have searched this forum and also the internet and have had no luck sourcing how to re-shape the lead keel back to her original shape or as close to that as possible. I have taken a mallet to it. Some small deformities were easily hammered back. I fear repeated blows to the large bend may break off a chunk of the lead! Heating with a torch will make the lead more malleable but again I fear doing more damage. It's hard to get a good visual of the damage in pictures.
I turn to the wealth of knowledge and experience on this forum. Has anyone had a similar issue?
If anyone could point me to resources, documentation etc that I could utilize to guide me in making this repair.
Of course the other option is to do nothing as she sails wonderfully in spite of the damage. But I know the turbulence over the bend is affecting performance to some degree.
Thank you everyone.
Mark
I have searched this forum and also the internet and have had no luck sourcing how to re-shape the lead keel back to her original shape or as close to that as possible. I have taken a mallet to it. Some small deformities were easily hammered back. I fear repeated blows to the large bend may break off a chunk of the lead! Heating with a torch will make the lead more malleable but again I fear doing more damage. It's hard to get a good visual of the damage in pictures.
I turn to the wealth of knowledge and experience on this forum. Has anyone had a similar issue?
If anyone could point me to resources, documentation etc that I could utilize to guide me in making this repair.
Of course the other option is to do nothing as she sails wonderfully in spite of the damage. But I know the turbulence over the bend is affecting performance to some degree.
Thank you everyone.
Mark