centerboard repair advice

[ElkySS]

I am still working on sanding my Venture 24. I picked it up real cheap but it was in rough shape. I have been working on sanding the bottom down to glass so I could build it back up the right way. I started working on the centerboard today and came into a bad problem and I'm not sure what to do about it. I had seen cracks in the fiberglass so I started grinding them down a bit so I could fill it back in. Then the real problems started. Under the 1 layer of fiberglas was a thick layer of some kind of resin. The crack continued into this resin. In the search for something solid to start building from I continued to grind out the crack when a large (about the size of my hand) just fell off. It looks like water got under the resin and seperated it from the metal core. I think I could use some west system epoxy to build that back up but I'm not sure. The next crack seems to keep going and I could really use some advice. I have no idea what to do here.

I put the part that fell out back up there for this pic


This is the part that came out. looks like really thick resin.


As much as this looks like a heart I do not feel the love.

[ElkySS]

This is the crack that keeps going. I worry about grinding this out but not sure what else to do.

[kadet]

Sorry but that looks likes a de-lamination problem. You got not real choice but to strip off all the loose glass then re-glass with epoxy. You could try to inject epoxy under the loose glass but you will never know if you get it all and could find it just de-laminates again.

On a second look it looks like the de-lamination has been caused because resin has been used for build up without any glass reinforcing. Used some chopped mat and epoxy and build it back up.

[ElkySS]

Yea that layer of epoxy is real thick then has 1 layer of glass over it. I sort of hate to take it all off because I don't know that I have the experience necessary to build the same foil shape back up the same way. I will look at it some more and may make a template of some sort.

On a happy note I don't think that "big crack" is really a major issue. I didn't know that only the end of the keel is solid steel so I think the big Crack is just where that weight meets the wood that goes the rest of the way to the front.

I found this page finally of a guy rebuilding a 1971 V24 and mine is a 1969 so I assume is if built the same way. Makes me feel a lot better.
https://venturesailboat.wordpress.com/2 ... el-refurb/

[paulkayak]

I have done a major rebuild on the centreboard for my 26S and although it is all fibreglass and not weighted like yours it was a big job as well. I had the same fear as you when I started and was happy just making something that worked and was going to find a new centreboard later. But as I got building I ended up with one that was spot on and I was more than happy with my results. The major difference is the metal you have gives a basic structure for you to work from. It is really not that hard and you sound like you can figure it out. I would suggest going down to the metal and start from there. You do not want to do this again. The major thing you have to do is make sure it fits in your centreboard trunk. The second concern is fluid dynamic shape. Do some research on the shape that would work best for a centreboard and I bet you will end up with a keel that is better than the original one.
And to make the metal rust proof look into POR15 system. Not cheep or quick but it is permanent.

http://www.por15.com

If you want to see photos of my repair pm me and I will arrange to email them to you. I have no luck posting photos from my iPad.

[ElkySS]

good deal. I will look into that to cover the metal. From the looks of it I can put that on the metal, then epoxy, glass, and finally paint, right? I just hope to get the foil shape right.

[paulkayak]

Get it down to bare metal wash the metal with their marine clean, treat it, with the prep and ready, then paint with POR15. And nothing sticks to this stuff unless you scratch it with some sand paper. I have restored cars and always use this stuff. It will impress you. And you will never need to do this repair again.

[ElkySS]

Will do. I will look I to Ordering some up.

[Wingnut1956]

I'm a newbie to sailing but have recently restored a V17, now working on a V22 and both had damaged keels. On the 17 all that was left was the 5" X 60" steel plate spine that supported the lead ballast at the bottom. I was able to get the specs for the keel and also saw how Joe V. had rebuilt his keel. After much head scratching about the lateral forces that water puts on the keel and calculating cost of epoxy and glass I opted to use a piece of plate steel 10" wide 3/4" thick and 60" long. (I'm concerned that Joe's design may fold up one day)
I shaved some of the lead of the bottom to account for additional weight of the steel plate, grinded down the leading and trailing edges, painted it and put it back in the boat... with a new SS keel bolt.
It doesn't have the foil shape that helps with speed(?) but it is very functional and easy to maintain.
Obviously I'm not a racer so speed is not a concern and it seems to handle/sail upwind just great.
I tell you all this to ask why more people don't use this simple fix. Why go to the trouble to encase it in glass that we all know is going to leak water into the steel spine, causing it to rust and blow apart the epoxy and fiberglass?

What am I missing?