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Torpedo Bulb Keel change

Loren Beach

O34 - Portland, OR
Senior Moderator
Blogs Author
http://www.islander36.org/boatpics/shillelagh/shillelagh.html

The topic of draft reduction on the external-lead keel on the later Ericson-constructed boats comes up regularly on this site.

I was doing a bit of 'net research and found the above link detailing the torpedo bulb conversion on an Islander 36. The pictures are helpful.
Mars Metals has done something similar for at least one E-38 that I have read about.
Nice photos of the assembly of the two parts, IMHO.

FYI...

Loren

ps: prior related thread: http://www.ericsonyachts.org/infoexchange/showthread.php?t=3015&referrerid=28
 
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treilley

Sustaining Partner
I know of a guy with a 35 that went to Bruce King to ask about doing this conversion. I think Bruce basically said don't do it.

The reason for making the change was so the boat would fit at the mooring in front of his home.

He did the change anyway. Last I heard the bulb is at the bottom of the ICW somewhere. I do not know what is under his boat now but he no longer keeps it in front of his home.
 

Gary Peterson

Marine Guy
A Mars Keel bulb was installed on our 381 about 10 years ago. Total weight on ours added 800 #s. The sailing charachteristics (spelling) improved greatly.
Ericsons have a very over engineered keel mounting system but some other boat designs could be very suspect for the additional bending moment and lower center of gravity.
In my opinion I would be quite leery of the Islander in the link above in heavy weather.
 

rwthomas1

Sustaining Partner
I've got a Mars bulb on my E38 keel. I have commented on this modification before so a search should pull it up. RT
 

tdtrimmer

Member II
I installed the Mars Metal bulb on the keel of our 1981 E38 about 7 years ago after consulting with Don Kohlman and others who had done the same thing. I believe the bulb weighs a total of 600 lbs. The results were as hoped for. The boat is stiffer and points a bit higher. The combination of the bulb and using a 110 jib instead of the 150 made a significant difference in the handling and sailing qualities of this wonderful vessel.
Tom
 

Loren Beach

O34 - Portland, OR
Senior Moderator
Blogs Author
You would need a current bid from Mars Metals.
http://www.marskeel.com/services/1
Note that you need to factor in a hefty transportation charge for such a heavy item (s).
Sidebar: One of the few pluses to a recession is the big drop in metals prices recently.
Note the downturn in lead pricing.
http://www.metalprices.com/FreeSite/metals/pb/pb.asp

The design and molding labor would be budget items, along with the material...

Best,
Loren
 
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rwthomas1

Sustaining Partner
I came very close to shipping my keel to Mars for rework when I had it off. They are good to talk to on the phone about projects like this. I live in RI and there are boat builders here that get regular shipments from Mars so shipping was actually reasonable. If you happen to have a boatbuilder nearby that uses Mars then it will be quite reasonable to ship. The truck is already coming your way. RT
 
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