Hollow Keel?

[psneeld]

Was grinding my bottom off due to delam/hydrolysis...saw a dark spot along the bottom of the keel amidships (looked wet too). So I ground a half inch into the corner of the bottom of the keel and ...wow... a stream of water like a garden hose started...
Then I ground some more and double that came out for at least 15-20 minutes. I'm guessing somewhere 50-100 gallons came out.
With a flashlight and a stick...it looks to just be a hollow cavity..but the water came from somewhare...any ideas???

[jleonard]

I found water in my keel AFTER I bought my boat (but before I ever splashed it). It did not come gushing out, rather a slow drip. I was told the keel is cement filled.
In my case I believe the water came in thru screws that held the bilge pump in place. I glassed the holes up and mounted the bilge pump in another way so as not have to screw into the bilge. The dripping every fall/spring is almost gone now so I think I solved the intrusion problem.
To let the water drain out I installed a drain plug in the bottom of the keel where the water was comming out...just below the stern tube. The plug is 1/4 npt bronze with a recessed allen head. I get a few oz every spring. I don't think it will ever completely dry out.

Another local Albin (36) owner also had water in his keel. His point of intrusion was from inside the bilge just aft of the engine. The glass work that seals the keel from the bilge was breached. He ground that all out and re-glassed. His water issue went away, and yes, he put in a drain plug and still get a few drops every year. (but he stayed out on land for a complete year so the water had a long time to drain out.)

[Chester B]

I'm not sure about the water but we recently had the bottom peeled on our 1988 36 DC because of extensive small blisters. While repairing the bottom we discovered voids along both sides of the keel at the very bottom running pretty much the whole length of the boat. I'm fairly sure this was a manufacturing flaw - when they built up the glass after the initial gel cost and glass layer, they didn't properly fill that space with glass and resin (the keel was laid up square but the glass never got into that sharp corner). Any type of minor crack would allow water to get into that void and just sit there; that could be the cause of the problem. I would check the length of the keel to make sure you don't have a similar situation.

[psneeld]

Thanks guys...sure is a crappy design..but a hollow keel full of water isn't the end of the world either. I like the idea of a pumpout tube...I think I'll install one so it will ket me know the rate of intrusion.

[meridian]

I’m resurrecting this thread as this is my first year out of the water with this A-36. I see the hull was weeping near the bottom of the hull. I drilled half way through and just got weeping so it must be all glass. Any idea how high I might drill to find open hull?

[meridian]

This is just in front of the engine about 12". The glassed area from here (and maybe to the back end of the engine) is very thin. I drilled and found wet foam and the the bottom of the hole was about 10" when I hit solid material I assume is the keel. I was able to stick my shop vac hose to the bottom and pull out the water, about 5 gallons. I have no idea how much more is in the rest of the keel.

[jleonard]

The area in back of the engine is where a friend of mine discovered that his was leaking. He regalssed everything he could reach.

[R. D. Pukal]

 
Hi all,
>> I have a Albin 43 that has water in the keel? The other Albin I have has a
>> drain plug in the keel about 3 inches from the bottom the 43 does not.
>> Has any one added a plug or pump? If so how did you do it?
>> Thanks,
>> Rich