Ding

[RicM]

This past July I heard and felt a clunk while traveling at about 18KT on a clear calm day. We turned and saw what appeared to be a wooden shipping crate in the wake. No water in the bilge, and no vibration so we continued on our way. The boat got hauled this week and look what I found:

[Denis]

That is quite a ding, I hope you know how to do fiberglass repair.

[jcollins]

Ouch. That hurts. I have one almost in the same spot. Came too close to some rocks last year.

[RicM]

My buddy Dave is a fiberglass expert, and says that epoxy is the best solution, but not until spring. As the boat has been wet for 4 months there is probably some water that has soaked into the mat around the area, and letting it dry out for the winter will be a good thing. Does anyone know what is beneath the matting? In the picture it looks like a metal form that has been covered with fiberglass.

[Mariner]

Yeah, wouldn't use epoxy. I would use fiberglass. I can't think of any reason for using a material other than the original other than wanting to avoid the work or expense. Ultimately, I don't imagine that it matters much, as it apears to just be metal balast underneath, but just to be safe, I would patch it with glass.

Your friend is right, letting it dry out over the winter is a good idea.

[RobS]

Gotta love that protected running gear or you'd a heard a lot more than that ding.

[RicM]

Oh yeah! I was out fishing on a charter 2 seasons ago and the captain told us about a hit he took. 30 Mi off shore in a straight diesel powered center consol they hit a semisubmerged object, either a log or a turtle, they don't know. They were violently thrown forward as they were doing 25-30 kts. The prop & shaft were ripped out the back of the boat. When they all got upright they checked the bilge and found water rushing in. A guy jumped overboard with a sweatshirt and stuffed it in the hole. I don't remember now if it was Sea Tow or CG that brought them back. The boat was a total. No skeg, just an open prop inboard. It was the first thing I thought of when I looked back and saw the wooden shape in the wake. What do you suppose would have happened with one of those forward facing drives? I'm thinking a large section of hull gone!

[RobS]

What do you suppose would have happened with one of those forward facing drives? I'm thinking a large section of hull gone!

Yeah, as the prop was be the first point of contact with the submerged object you would have to imagine that the submerged object would get that much more violently thrown into the hole. It would most likely be catostrophic. I am not familiar with forward facing drives, is there any skeg-like protection forward of the prop?

[RicM]

Rob:

See:
http://www.marlinmag.com/engines/engine ... 37573.html

I understand that the drives are meant to snap off on a collision without breaching the hull. However, a loose object like the crate I hit would be smashed into the hull if it engaged the forward facing props, possibly slamming holes in the surrounding hull. It would be a nightmare in areas with a lot of lobster or crab pots. That said, they are supposed to be very efficient, as the props are biting into relatively undisturbed water forward of the drives.

[RobS]

Thanks for the link Ric.

I think we can safely disagree with this quote from the article:

"And in a much more likely collision with a piece of floating debris, the IPS drive will likely only get bent — once again, always a possibility with straight inboards as well."

[RicM]

Yeah, the skeg was one of my major attractions to the Albin design. I seem to somehow run over at least 1 lobster pot a year, and so far I have only gotten tied up once with the Albin, and then I just jogged it in reverse a couple of times and backed the rope out. I didn't even get wet.

[RobS]

I have run a ground once while on plane so the skeg has saved me too! It also allows me to gingerly idle into lower water anchorages and carefully bounce along the bottom. A landing gear type wheel mounted under the skeg would come in handy....

[mhanna]

I have run a ground once while on plane so the skeg has saved me too! It also allows me to gingerly idle into lower water anchorages and carefully bounce along the bottom. A landing gear type wheel mounted under the skeg would come in handy....

Training wheels for Toy-rific ? Rob by now you should know your way around

Matt

[Merry Kate]

Hey Ric -

No problem! I had a similar bite taken out of Merry Kate's skeg early in her career. I used West system epoxy with high-density filler and it has been rock-solid for 10+ yrs (actually, much stronger than the original layup). Once sanded-down & covered with bottom paint, it'll be invisible. If I recall correctly, the skeg is all-glass, with the hollow filled with some sort of glass/resin filler, to make the whole thing solid - you could break off the whole skeg and not sink (if you lived through it).

In the spring, grind out the damage to in-tact layup, get a small epoxy system repair kit and follow the instructions - following the directions carefully makes it almost impossible to mess up. (I learned through trial and mostly error that the secret with epoxy is not to try and get it perfect - mix it carefully, glop in on, and sand down to match the contours after it's set.) 1-hour job max!!

I can't believe what an awesome design this skeg keel is - I would have ruined so many props & shafts without it I never could have afforded to keep a boat. I'll never own another boat without fully protected running gear.

Have fun contemplating this enjoyable & easy repair through the brutal Rhode Island winter!

Happy Thanksgiving,
Ed

[RicM]

Ed:

Ah yes, I guess it is a scar that I should view as a badge of honor. Happy T-day to you, Tam, and the kids.

Ric