Keel Repair from A-Z 22ft
Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 11:36 am
Hi All,
I have just completed the dreaded keel pin/bracket replacement on my Starwind 22 (just fyi, the fittings are almost exactly the same as the C22). Not knowing how to post images here, I have posted a bunch on my fb page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008151311802
Or look on fb for Shaun Sanders adjunct Santa Barbara.
The job is hell, but it's worth doing knowing that the keel is secure. When reinstalling, I shimmed up the pin and now have no keel clunk. No leaks either:)
Contact info for the ss fabricator I used in Ventura Ca.: Mike Owens, Shoreline Metal. https://www.shorelinemetal.com
Mike is a great guy and makes great suggestions. I used 304 SS and he charged me a mere $325, including spare pin. He followed the plans posted on this blog somewhere (wish I could find them again), although we did make some adjustments, so check your old brackets against the drawing before ordering. I'm also happy to answer any questions. My new brackets needed additional correction: I countersunk the bolt holes and use flathead ss screws instead of bolts; I also had to grind off the top edge of the new brackets (where they fit against the hull at the top of the housing) to make the bolt holes line up with the hull bolt holes, and to make the fit snug--but talk to Mike about that as well.
Reasons for keel movement, before the big fix: It seems the keel can slide on the pin, as much as maybe 1". Also, while the old pin was set solidly into the brackets (maybe the ends had been glued in), the pin fit inside the keel hole was surprisingly sloppy--the old and new ss pins had considerable movement inside the hole in the keel, and within the new brackets. I was surprised to find this and would recommend inserting an over-sized pin to stop the angular shift--maybe a .015" larger: I didn't realize this until I was in the midst of assembly, so I made some .015" curved ss shims and slipped them inside the hole in the keel to tighten the fit. It worked wonders, although I do wonder how long they'll stay put. The new bracket holes also had play in them ( not sure why), so it seems they would accommodate the larger pin without any extra drilling. I ended up shimming both new brackets and the keel. I had to chamfer the head of the pin considerably before inserting, and I needed a hammer to drive it home, but hey, it's ss, it can take it:)
To get the boat off the trailer, I used 50 gal steel drums, with blocks of wood under the stern and three 2"x8"x10' planks bolted together as a beam to support the bow (probably over engineered). I did the old trick of dropping the trailer tongue, sliding the drums under the stern, raising the tongue, then sliding the beam under the bow, also on drums. Then pulled the trailer out from under.
Finally, I used coal tar epoxy on the keel, Rustoleum. I would not recommend it, though. I ground off old paint and rust with a grinder, then wiped down with acetone. I then immediately coated (after the acetone dried) in coal tar epoxy. I gave it two coats, taking the recommended time between coats. Unfortunately, it is not easy to get an 800lb keel back in a 3-4 inch slot, and the keel inevitably scrapes against the new brackets and the keel slot when going in. To my horror, when the keel scuffed, the coal tar epoxy rubbed off in rubbery lumps, leaving bare metal, and this was two weeks after it had been applied. I was greatly disappointed by this unexpected result. Apparently, it doesn't set hard, like a normal epoxy would. If I did the job again, I'd use a regular paint type rust primer, not coal tar.
Let me know if I can be of any help.
Happy sailing.
I have just completed the dreaded keel pin/bracket replacement on my Starwind 22 (just fyi, the fittings are almost exactly the same as the C22). Not knowing how to post images here, I have posted a bunch on my fb page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008151311802
Or look on fb for Shaun Sanders adjunct Santa Barbara.
The job is hell, but it's worth doing knowing that the keel is secure. When reinstalling, I shimmed up the pin and now have no keel clunk. No leaks either:)
Contact info for the ss fabricator I used in Ventura Ca.: Mike Owens, Shoreline Metal. https://www.shorelinemetal.com
Mike is a great guy and makes great suggestions. I used 304 SS and he charged me a mere $325, including spare pin. He followed the plans posted on this blog somewhere (wish I could find them again), although we did make some adjustments, so check your old brackets against the drawing before ordering. I'm also happy to answer any questions. My new brackets needed additional correction: I countersunk the bolt holes and use flathead ss screws instead of bolts; I also had to grind off the top edge of the new brackets (where they fit against the hull at the top of the housing) to make the bolt holes line up with the hull bolt holes, and to make the fit snug--but talk to Mike about that as well.
Reasons for keel movement, before the big fix: It seems the keel can slide on the pin, as much as maybe 1". Also, while the old pin was set solidly into the brackets (maybe the ends had been glued in), the pin fit inside the keel hole was surprisingly sloppy--the old and new ss pins had considerable movement inside the hole in the keel, and within the new brackets. I was surprised to find this and would recommend inserting an over-sized pin to stop the angular shift--maybe a .015" larger: I didn't realize this until I was in the midst of assembly, so I made some .015" curved ss shims and slipped them inside the hole in the keel to tighten the fit. It worked wonders, although I do wonder how long they'll stay put. The new bracket holes also had play in them ( not sure why), so it seems they would accommodate the larger pin without any extra drilling. I ended up shimming both new brackets and the keel. I had to chamfer the head of the pin considerably before inserting, and I needed a hammer to drive it home, but hey, it's ss, it can take it:)
To get the boat off the trailer, I used 50 gal steel drums, with blocks of wood under the stern and three 2"x8"x10' planks bolted together as a beam to support the bow (probably over engineered). I did the old trick of dropping the trailer tongue, sliding the drums under the stern, raising the tongue, then sliding the beam under the bow, also on drums. Then pulled the trailer out from under.
Finally, I used coal tar epoxy on the keel, Rustoleum. I would not recommend it, though. I ground off old paint and rust with a grinder, then wiped down with acetone. I then immediately coated (after the acetone dried) in coal tar epoxy. I gave it two coats, taking the recommended time between coats. Unfortunately, it is not easy to get an 800lb keel back in a 3-4 inch slot, and the keel inevitably scrapes against the new brackets and the keel slot when going in. To my horror, when the keel scuffed, the coal tar epoxy rubbed off in rubbery lumps, leaving bare metal, and this was two weeks after it had been applied. I was greatly disappointed by this unexpected result. Apparently, it doesn't set hard, like a normal epoxy would. If I did the job again, I'd use a regular paint type rust primer, not coal tar.
Let me know if I can be of any help.
Happy sailing.