Skegs on 27FC? Retrofit question (reposted from other forum)

[DCatSea]

"Mazboot" is a 1984 27FC without a skeg to afford protection to the prop. Has anyone retrofitted one of these? If so, any tips on best ways to do it would be welcomed. If you have pictures or specs to share you would make me a very happy camper. (Going to be doing some gunk-holing in the Bay, and hitting the Ditch in 2016, and would like the protection a skeg provides.)

Thanks to all at AOG for continuing to provide great ideas and information.

[eseyoung]

I am not sure what you mean when you say 'Skeg'? the 27 comes with a complete keel which protects the prop. some (those with a metal rudder) came with a 'shoe' that connected the rudder with the keel...is that what you are talking about?

Here is a picture of 'Free State' owned by a member here, as you can see the keep gives adequate prop protection.

She has the fiberglass rudder, others had a board running between the rudder and the keel. I don't know if that would give any additional prop protection but does give the rudder a second attachment point.

[Carl]

Since you are in Deale, next time you are there, go into Herrington Harbor North. Not far in on your right is a 27 on the hard that is for sale. You can take pictures and look at the setup. I am pretty sure it has the keel and will look myself the next time down.

[DCatSea]

Thanks to both eseyoung and Carl.

eseyoung - I think that the shoe is the same as the skeg I am looking to retrofit. I have seen a pic. of a 27 with the shoe/skeg. I see the point about additional support for the rudder. I believe Free State used to be "smacksman's" boat ( a fellow Brit) Thanks for the pic. it not only demos tbe keel, but also provides a good template for a new bimini frame.

Carl - thanks for the heads-up on the Herrington 27FC for sale. I will certainly look in there when I go down on Monday.

[Pitou]

I think that the shoe is the same as the skeg I am looking to retrofit. I have seen a pic. of a 27 with the shoe/skeg.

For clarification:

The"Skeg" is the bar that runs from the keel to the "Shoe". The "Shoe" is attached to the end of the "Skeg" and supports the rudder post.

I hope that helps.

[eseyoung]

That does help...

I always thought of a skeg kinda like fixed rudder...as in a vertical member to stabilize yaw movement.

[DCatSea]

Carl
Went to Herrington today and was able to see the SC for sale. Very nice. The skeg is exactly what I was looking for, and may well be a fairly easy do-able modification.
Thanks for the heads up.
(BTW - asking price is 29K for this one)

Doug

[Carl]

Glad you were able to get by there, I am going down on Saturday and was going to take pics if you had not been by. Good luck with your project!

[DCatSea]

Carl et al,

Here are the pics I took of the skeg on this particular 27.
I am coming out of the water next week (trip to West Coast makes early "out" imperative.) and will be seriously looking at adding a skeg to "Mazboot", (One more winter job on the list - but isn't that why we have boats?)
Also adding a full width swim platform.

IMG_1917.JPG

IMG_1916.JPG

[johnvb1014]

When we bought Isabel she had a rotted timber skeg. Seemed like a bad idea to replace with something else that would rot so instead replaced it with aluminum box beam since it is hollow was concerned that bolts to the keel would crush it so filled that end with epoxy. Don't know if that is really an issue, but now have a skeg that should last a lot longer than I will.

John VB

[DCatSea]

John - thanks for the input. Do you have any pictures? Would love to see this.

Doug

[JT48348]

I have the wooden a keg like what's pictured. I'm considering adding stainless angle iron to the side edges to protect bottom edges and coating in epoxy. I'd like to see the box beam solution also

[Beta Don]

When we bought Isabel she had a rotted timber skeg. Seemed like a bad idea to replace with something else that would rot so instead replaced it with aluminum box beam since it is hollow was concerned that bolts to the keel would crush it so filled that end with epoxy. Don't know if that is really an issue, but now have a skeg that should last a lot longer than I will.

Aluminum isn't a very noble metal for underwater use, especially in salt water - In fact, aluminum is used as a sacrificial metal (like zinc) to protect other more noble metals like stainless and bronze. Coating it with epoxy and then painting it would afford some protection, but since the inside of the box is open to the water, I suspect it will rot out fairly quickly, since you can't protect the inside with paint

The teak one lasted 30 years . . . . I really doubt the aluminum one will be able to half match that

Early FC's didn't have the skeg at all. I added one to my '84 FC but I made it out of stainless. Through bolted at the keel with 3 bolts and an epoxied backing plate - My arm was just long enough to the nuts on the inside of the keel, reaching down through the access plate in the aft cabin floor

Don

[Carl]

how about one of these?


http://catalog.buckalgonquin.com/viewit ... s-straight

[sail149]

Great looking bronze skeg.
Mine is a stainless u- channel with a hugh anode bolted in the space in the underside.