Hey everyone,
After a great weekend on the water, I happened to look underneath the boat (as I had some run-ins with various trees and floating wood along the way), and noticed that the front bottom of the keel was really getting worn down. At least I didn't see any damage from the various pieces of trees collisions.
Would appreciate any ideas on the best way to fix and prevent future rubbing of the front of the keel on the trailer keel trough. I'm sure I had at least two layers of glass there, which has now been entirely rubbed though in one are, and getting really thin in the forward 6" or so. Based on a fingernail test, it appears the surface of the wood it is still saturated in epoxy, so seems I caught it just in time.
One can image a lot of friction as the boat is floating flat on the water, and when being pulled onto a slopped trailer, all the load is directly applied to the front of the keel as it is winched up those final few foot onto the trailer. Also, this area is almost right below the bulk of the lead placed below the floor boards.
Anyone else notice this happening as well?
Repair thoughts:
1) Add 1-2 layer of glass and try to feather in?
2) some sort of graphite bottom?
For those in the building phase- anyone have a scrap section of glass/graphite they can send me?
Prevention:
1) seems backing the trailer further in the water, or not launching at shallow ramps would help.
2) apply a lubricant to the forward part of the keel trough to minimize friction?
Thanks all,
Sean
P.S. on more happy topics, a few pics from the weekend cruise
https://buildingpocketship.wordpress.co ... ction=edit