Sean, On my M-15 I found that the keel was wet and dripping of water by drilling four 3/8" holes on both sides of the keel slot (last year). I let it drain for a week and it was still wet with bits of steel punchings exposed so I just closed it up. I had the CB replaced the previous year. I got the lead cored CB from Bob Eeg (watch out for the local shipper folks who do not know how delicate the edges are on a center board). I had to have a shop extract the old CB and stick in the new one. Then I learned how to apply two part primer and two part epoxy to finish up the keel. It looks ok but don't get too close.
Fair Winds, Just my 3 cents (inflation in California) Larry.... M-15 Hull #189 -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ion.com] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 8:06 AM To: [email protected] Subject: M_Boats: Lead Keel- Long Rant OK...here's my two cents. I wouldn't worry about having a steel ballast M boat either. More than likely you will never have to do the switch over like I did to Dauntless. She had spent 26 years...count'em.....26 in warm salt water. She did not even have a trailer. That is one of the reasons why she was blistered and wet. AND....now you know and can see that on the off chance you should have to make the ballast replacement, it's not a death sentence for the boat. Unpleasant? yes But if I can do it by myself anyone should be able to. In fact, I'm sure some of you looked at the process that I used and said "I wouldn't do it that way" and probably came up with better ideas. Like Gary pointed out. Especially if you dry sail your boat you'll more than likely not ever have to deal with this. You can't beat the prices of the earlier M-17s or 15's for the quality boat you get and how well they sail. And now for the weather report. Northerners....you can start to feel avenged!!! Believe it or not we are approaching 100 degrees already. 96 yesterday and I burned my foot on the black aluminum toe rail. Too soon for this!!! Fortunately, 'Jo an I are bugging out of here tonight on a red eye flight from Vegas to ....Cozumel, Mexico for 4 days of Scuba!!! 85 degree air and 85 degree water!! (we hope!) Talk to you all next week! Don't get crazy and start cutting those keels apart for no reason!!!! Sean ************************************** AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at http://www.aol.com. _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
