355 AC Cracked keel

[vernh59]

I posted this in Classic Sea Ray section but thought it might belong here as it deals with glasswork. After pressure washing and blocking I noticed a crack in the keel.




After I ground out the crack I found foam inside. This layer was wet but it could be from the pressure washer.



I'm not sure what I will do with this. For now, I am just making sure it is dry. Any suggestions would be welcome. I have posted a question for Andy at Boat Works Today. I will post any comments I get from him as well.

 

[Creekwood]

From the side picture it looks like the boat was dropped to make that damage. Did the keel look like that last fall? Who blocked it?

 

[vernh59]

I don't know when it happened. Clearly there was too much weight on the keel. If the area was wet when blocked it could have been soft.


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[1956olds]

I guess i dont know exactly where that area is on your boat.Does it have a keel like a sailboat down the center?Looks like it sat on too small of a block for a while,or not enough blocks to distribute weight evenly.

 

[vernh59]

I guess i dont know exactly where that area is on your boat.Does it have a keel like a sailboat down the center?Looks like it sat on too small of a block for a while,or not enough blocks to distribute weight evenly.

I looked and I don't have a better picture of the keel but yes it is a full length keel. It is more like a trawler than a sailboat but the principal is the same. I am thinking she wasn't blocked properly and cracked under her own weight. The travel lift that the yard has is equipped with a scale and they said she was 24000 pounds in the slings.

 

[KC_Sundancer]

Looks like improper blocking damage - the hot Florida weather does not help bad blocking either.
It's probably best to get access from the inside, digging the foam out of that area for re-construction and reinforcing.
With an area that big you are going to want the fiberglass overlapping good glass quite a bit.
May require cutting a hole in the cabin floor for access. :huh:

 

[vernh59]

I don't know about gaining access from the inside. I would guess this area is 2 1/2 feet below the aft cabin floor. I am thinking about replacing the foam with marine ply sandwiched to make the correct width and glassed in. That should tie the damaged area to the rest of the keel. To get the right angles I think this area is going to be quite a bit larger.

 

[1956olds]

That sounds like a good plan,the wood in there looks pretty solid and dry.Be sure to make the repair area large enough to overlap the glass matting several times .On that heavy of a boat strength is probablt more important than perfection on the keel so spend more time repairing structural integrity than trying to make it perfect looking.I see a west systems receipt in your future.