keel repair

[slukity]

I am new to this form and i am hoping to get some suggestions on repairing my keel. I recently bought a Venture 2-22 (71) and it has the normal delamination of the fiberglass that surounds the metal core. My question is how can a repair it with out reglassing it and ending up with the same problem in a couple of years. One of my ideas is to have a new keel built out of plate steel and having it powder coated or some other type of coating. then the question came up about what will happen to handling if i eliminate the the foil shape? Will a flat sided keel handle properly? I don't plan on racing but I sure don't want to cause anymore problems than necessary.
Thanks for any suggestions.

Slukity,
If I understand correctly, one of your ideas is to make a keel out of one solid, flat plate of steel. This can be done if the plate is thick enough (seat of the pants guess is 2 to 3-inches minimum). You would absolutely kill the sailing performance if you didn't shape the leading and trailing edges, though. A proper foil shape would be nice, but you could make do with tapers at the leading and trailing edge. The trailing edge taper could finish sharp (1/16 to1/8-inch thick is easier to maintain), and the front edge of the leading edge taper should be rounded.

You would also want to make certain that you maintained similar ballast and righting arm to your original keel if you go this way (sailing is always better right side up).

Your best bet is probably to effect a good repair of the existing keel, if it is not to far gone. I will leave that to others more expert than me to describe.

[sukibe]

I am working on a replica of a 1929 motor cruiser. I began with the GRP hull of a 22 foot sailboat that otherwise would never see the water again. I have cut out the existing cabin and will replace it with a full headroom cabin and in place of the cockpit which I have also removed I will have a semi enclosed pilot house (windshield and canvas roof). The boat had a shallow draft keel with swing keel internal to it. The keel was held in place with 5 bolts. I removed the keel as I want the boat to be beachable and would like to replace the ballast effect it had with an internal arrangement, probably poured cement in the same location (but now inside the boat) as the former keel. I figure this ought to work as there is no longer a 25 ft. mast and sail to counter balance. Looking for advice.

[Tohbi]

i've thought of making a motorsailor of my venture 21. it has a swing keel that folds and lies externally under the boat, making it act as a skeg. i would probably remove the lead on the end of the keel to give it a better shape as it acts as a skeg. the skeg will help directional stability under power and the keel can still be employed for sailing or any time more stability is required, although removal of the lead ballast will change the draft. the lead could be transferred to the inside of hull, i guess.

i'd be interested in your pilothouse design if you have pics.

[tspeer]

If the keel is thin enough a flat section is not that bad. Lots of racing one-designs use flat plate centerboards.

Shape the leading edge to an approximatley elliptical profile and taper the trailing edge - probably no steeper than a 7 degree chamfer - and smooth the transition to the taper. Should sail fine.

Just make sure the thickness is adequate for the loads you're going to put on it. But even then, if you bend it you'll know you made it too thin!