Big crack on keel

[Thumper74]

Should I be worried?? Any idea on how to fix? Any idea or guesses on what caused this?? Wouldn’t want to loose my rudder… or take on water.

[WillieC]

Well that looks worrisome to me. That is the skeg attachment/encasement. Is it possibly freeze damage? Is the skeg loose? It might be difficult to tell with the rudder still attached.

Sure looks like it may have grounded and maybe even scraped a bunch of material off. Everything can be repaired but how deep would one have to grind to make it solid again. All the way to the encased pipe then put it back together lapping layers of glass and epoxy resin up the sides of the keel? Not fun but doable.

The WillieC has touched bottom a few times and repairs were made prior to our owning it. I stripped to gel coat for new bottom paint. Clues were different color and lack of gel coat in the repaired area. Looked funky but took two-part barrier coat just fine. Still, ouch.

[dkirsop]

Something I worry about when trailering is having the skeg touch pavement when transitioning a sharp grade change. If taking my rig on a ferry I always check the tide and talk to the loading attendant to make sure nothing hits the apron on entering or exiting.

[Thumper74]

Something I worry about when trailering is having the skeg touch pavement when transitioning a sharp grade change. If taking my rig on a ferry I always check the tide and talk to the loading attendant to make sure nothing hits the apron on entering or exiting.

Yes sir. This is true. As to my knowledge the only time this boat was trailered was from Florida to Mississippi. The trailer it sits on is not even fitted for this boat. ( a project I will achieve). It was a trailer that was just thrown into the deal made by the previous owners.