Sailing Uma · video

What this video covers

Dan and Kika reattach the keel to their sailboat, Uma, following an extensive structural refit. After vacuum-bagging the keel stub with new fiberglass, the crew redrilled the keel bolt holes to accommodate the increased thickness of the hull and G10 reinforcement.4:25 To ensure precise alignment, they leveled the boat on jack stands and used levers to center the keel, as the lack of a long guide stud necessitated a manual dry-fit process.13:04 They applied a high-strength, low-viscosity epoxy to the joint, using a foam dam to contain the squeeze-out.20:59 Once the keel was positioned, they secured the nuts and washers from the bilge, lifting the boat slightly to allow the keel to hang freely and settle into its final vertical orientation.22:08 After the epoxy cured, the crew faired the joint with filler and applied primer to finish the repair.34:34 The project successfully restored the structural integrity and stiffness of the keel connection.

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