Two part keel '76C9.6

Ahoy, I have a Columbia 9.6 which has a iron keel forward and the rear part of keel is fiberglass and appears to be hollow allowing water to seep in and out of bilge. I have tapped on the lowest part of bilge deck and it seems hollow. There is a hole there sealed with flexible putty as well as the edges of a fiberglass panel deck. I would like to pour epoxy in this hollow space to seal as well as add ballast to this part of keel. Has anyone tackled this problem and could give advice please? I do not want take up lower panel or drill out hole and reseal until I know more about what I'm in for! Thanks for feed back. P.S. Have searched and searched for plans showing the blueprint of this keel design and have been unsuccessful as of yet finding any info. This design is a fin keel with partial skeg running aft to rudder and prop. I have naught a clue but have seen references to bilge "sump"?

 

You could fill the cavity with something (epoxy will cost you way too much per pound of ballast), but I wouldn't .
I suggest you either fit a submersible pump into the cavity or if space is tight set up a flojet type pump that only requires a hose and strainer with the pump located up where there's room (bulkhead mount would work).
Then make sure there's a drain plug at the lowest point. You can replace the small hole filled with flexible putty with an inspection plate. Of course you'll have to find out where the leak is by watching after haulout for streams of water escaping. Then you'll need to repair that.
You could pour cement into the cavity but you'll change the boat's trim so you might try to stick with a hollow cavity.
Just ideas...

 

The ballast on this design didn't require the full length of the fin, so a void area is left. At the bottom of this area is a drain hole, which is usually opened when there's a leak, permitted to drain and dry out then resealed. A garboard drain is a common upgrade for this and simplifies draining and resealing once installed.

There should be sufficient space for a bilge pump in the fin hollow and this was the intent of Alan Payne when he designed it. Justin may have something of value, as he has the plans set, try > http://www.columbia-yachts.com/c-96lit.html <

 

Two part keel

Thanks folks for quick replies. Par you seem to be quite familiar with Alan Payne's design. Do you think that I would be wrong in sealing this space for extra ballast? I know the 9.6's have been said to suffer from weight loads of cruising gear and such but the extra weight would be at a lower center of gravity. I am restoring this boat for sea duty so I was hoping to seal and forget this problem! Will repair outside but if bilge leaks into space, could I have delamination issues? I also removed the water heater and plan to rebuild interior to my specs, how touchy are design changes, weight changes on this boat? I'm not looking to race but to cruise long distance, hopefully with better motion comfort than this design currently provides ( according to reviews read ). Also will be installing a heavier engine of more HP. Will be using fore peak for gear, sails, holding tank and provision storage. Thanks for the feedback

 

two part keel

Hey, Justin seems to offer more than Boat Brochures site for old literature and manuals, will check it out more. I'm not familiar with a Garboard plug but will further research term. Great stuff many thanks

 

I wouldn't burden your yacht with anything more then her current ballast, particularly for the use you have intended. The laminate in the area isn't likely designed to hold an additional ballast, so don't fill it. If you want you could fill the space with foam, though leaving a small sump is a wise idea. If you don't understand why, then making the other changes you have commented on should probably wait until you have some experience with the yacht.

Don't buy into the other comments of 9.6 owners, if for no other reason then you don't know their experience level. This is a sound design with a preformance edge (of the era) so she'll be sensitive to trim and weight changes, more so then an all up cruiser design. This would be typical of any preformance oriented design and not indicative of this breed.

 

two part keel

Thanks again for the sound advice. Will research the garboard plug indeed.

 

They look pretty much like this.

 

Two part keel

Ahoy there, I have removed lower bilge floor and discovered someone has filled bilge sump ( hollow part of keel ) with what is now water logged and deteriorated two part urethane foam. I removed all this and dried with hair dryer overnight and poured sealing epoxy in until it dripped from keel bottom outside. I then poured West Epoxy in to seal the floor. I will heed Par's advice and use the sump for it was intended for and install line to pump out water when needed. I can be happy with water ballast. Will glass bottom of keel also. Thanks for great advice. As manufacturer say's I would not recommend using two part urethane foam in an under water application. I have seen the results of doing so! Over

 

Two-Part Keel '76C9.6

Ahoy, OK Bilge sump; Hollow keel designed to collect ( Columbia 9.6 model-engine bilge ) water in lower keel. Pics posted of removing lower bilge deck and removal of previous owners application of two-part urethane foam and sealing, glassing of lower deck and bottom of keel and keel-hull joint. Project completed! Thanks for the advice my friends...../).......