Breaking Wavesvideo
A CRACK in our KEEL?!?! - Ep.38 S3
20 April 2021 · 15 min · 23K views
What this video covers
During a scheduled haul-out, the owners of the sailboat Kiana discover a "Catalina smile"—a separation between the keel and the hull caused by loose keel bolts. To repair the crack, they grind away the damaged fiberglass and paint to reach bare metal, tighten the keel bolts, clean out moisture, fill the gap with epoxy, and fair the area flush. During the same yard period, the crew replaces an old speed and depth sensor with a DST-800 multi-sensor. To install the new, larger transducer sleeve, they use a hole saw with a pilot bit centered in the existing through-hull hole to ensure alignment. They also address a sheared-off bolt where the zinc anode attaches, requiring them to re-tap the hole. The project concludes with bottom painting and general maintenance. The repair of a keel-to-hull separation requires tightening the keel bolts before sealing and fairing the joint to prevent further water intrusion.
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