We CUT a huge HOLE in our Sailboat's keel [E347]
7 September 2025 · 25 min · 1K views
What this video covers
The owners of a 40-year-old sailboat perform extensive hull and underwater gear maintenance while preparing the vessel for relaunch. The project involves removing the propeller shaft strut to replace a worn cutlass bearing and addressing electrolysis-related pitting on the stainless steel hardware.15:12 Accessing the strut bolts requires removing an aft water tank to reach the nuts inside the hull.11:24 The crew also removes the rudder skeg support, which requires heat and a borrowed tool to break free stubborn, corroded fasteners.9:13
Concurrent with mechanical repairs, the hull undergoes a full bottom paint removal using a manual scraper and TotalBoat TotalStrip.6:09 During the process, the owner discovers significant structural damage around the keel and skeg, including voids, air pockets, and poorly executed past repairs hidden beneath layers of filler.18:59 The repair process involves grinding away the compromised laminate to reach sound fiberglass for new glass work.22:59 Interior restoration includes deep cleaning, mold remediation, and fabricating a temporary fridge door.1:57
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