Derek, Cracks on the hull/keel joint are a frequent topic on the list. There are lots of ways to deal with it. One thing we all agree on is the need to properly torque the keel bolts. The specs can be found in the "Technical Info" section of the C&C photo album.
The next thing you need to ask is "why?" Too much backstay? A grounding? Some other cause? On some models, there is a good bit of distance between the aft part of the keel and the aftmost keel bolt. It may be that there isn't enough support there and that area is just prone to cracking. Touche' had minor cracks in the fairing at the aft end of the hull/keel joint for the first 2-3 haul outs after I bought it. There is a distance between the aftmost bolt and the area that kept cracking. I finally covered the joint all the way around with a few layers of biaxial glass tape. Cracks haven't reappeared. Other listers have done the same. Once you've torqued the bolts, you can do as your post says or glass it with tape. I dug out the forward part of the joint when I first bought Touche'. Packed the dug out area with epoxy saturated chopped carbon fiber. Couple of haul outs later it got the biaxial tape treatment. Haven't seen any cracking in 10 years. The bolts get re-torqued every 5 years or so. See the forward repair here: http://www.cncphotoalbum.com/doityourself/smile/ Dennis C. Touche' 35-1 #83 Mandeville, LA On Fri, May 2, 2014 at 1:22 PM, Tortuga via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com>wrote: > "For minor fairing you can use AwlFair or 3M Premium Filler. For deeper spots > start with 3M High Strength Filler then smooth with the lighter fillers." > > I also have some cracking on the trailing edges near the keel/hull joint. > I'm thinking I should dig it out and re-fair it. I was reading a blog in > which the author recommended using 3M 5200 for its flexibility. Below is a > quote from the blog. I'm soliciting opinions here. > > Thanks Dennis and Wally > > Derek > Tortuga, 30/1 > Ballantyne's Cove, NS > > "*The first thing to do if you're going to fix this clean up both the > joint and the surrounding area, about an inch to each side of the joint. > Clean it down to the fiberglass or gelcoat. Make sure it's all dry and > clean.* > > > *Next, run a piece of blue painter's masking tape about 1/2" to 1" > parallel to and on either side of the joint. Get a pack of inexpensive > sqeegees. Evercoat makes a three pack. They're flexible and cheap. Good > thing, because they're one use. * > > *Finally, with a caulking tube of 3M 5200 or 4200 in the color of your > choice (I use black), put a bead all along one side of the joint in the > keel. Don't be afraid to use more than you need. With the squeegee spread > the 5200 evenly and smoothly from front to back. The bead should be spread > evenly between the tape filling to the thickness of the tape."* > > _______________________________________________ > This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album > http://www.cncphotoalbum.com > CnC-List@cnc-list.com > >
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