 RL24 swing keel leak | The nuts on the pin for my swing keel worked loose. I removed the nuts and washers and cleaned everything. I resealed without too much tension on the nuts. Letting the sealant cure I put her back in with no leaks. After a while we slowly lowered the keel and at about 3/4 down the nuts started shifting and she started leaking. Does this mean that the keel is binding on the pin? What should I do? What is the best sealant? Eric Hough.
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| Re: RL24 swing keel leak | Eric.
It does seem that your keel is binding on the pivot bolt. I would suggest that you remove the nut again, and, alternatively rotate the bolt with a spanner, then tap the bolt out and in say 10mm, do this several times and it should free up.
Normally this problem only occurs if the boat has not been used for a long time. Best to lower and raise the keel regularly if the boat is unused for a long period.
I know of no better sealant than a good grade of Silicone.
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| Re: RL24 swing keel leak | Hi Eric
Along similar lines I had some drama before ths start of the Bay to Bay with my keel stuck (rusted) up. Got the boat on the travel lift at Tin Can and managed to get it levered down with the consequent leak around the keel bolt. Anyhow I am not in a position to get the keel out soon so I was thinking of taping up the bottom of the keel box and giving it a liberal drink of rust converter/fisholine/lanotech or some such anti rust soaking. Does anyone have any thoughts - I was wondering what rust converter would do to the fibreglass in the keel box. We managed to get most of the flaking rust belted off and made the start.
Rob, whatever the product was that you used to seal the wood at the top of the box was, it stood the test of time as it was a real effort to break it after the screws were out.
Geoff - Apache
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| Re: RL24 swing keel leak | Eric,
The best sealant I have found to use is Fix Tech MSP15. I use it by the box. It's the same as sika, but cheaper (about $16.00 a tube).
As for the bolt turning when lowering the keel. It sounds as if the bolt is rusted in. On "Chill Ouat" I took the keel out of the boat and had a brass bush made and fitted in the keel. This has also meant that the keel hole has had the slop taken out of it as well.
I also took the time to get the keel sand blasted and have fibreglassed and faired the keel over the board as well. As well as this I have cut in a new pulley at the top of the board to run the keel wire through. This means that the wire does not drag in the water as well.
Dave
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| Re: RL24 swing keel leak | Hi Eric on slyfox I welded a 50x50 mm square stainless plate to the head of the swivel pin (like a square washer) drilled a 3/16 hole in each corner of the plate and once the pin is in place screw the plate to the case stopping it from turning with the board and breaking the seal works great
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| Re: RL24 swing keel leak | Thank you all gents especially Rob, I am humbled. I will try one or all of these if necessary.
Eric
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