Two related issues:
1) I found an uncharted rock at low tide this summer so am now having a mast out/keel off repair by a reputable yard near Sidney, BC. Since my draft is slightly more than the 2 meters Canadian Hydrographic set as their minimum for charting obstructions I guess they are off the hook. 2) However the keel has shown minor weeping from a spot on the port side corresponding to about the lower end of a keel bolt - seen at haul outs since purchase about 6 years ago. At least two surveyors have seen it and ignored it. Usually there is a teaspoon or two of water and a bit of rust seeps out over 24 hours or so. This time there are two spots. While removing the keel (as per #1 above) light grinding over the area shows a fine vertical crack a couple of inches long and a couple more smaller cracks on other spots further back in line with bolts. On this thin keel the aft bolt is only about ½ diameter. I had been told earlier at a Rendevous that the trickle, etc could be caused by impurities in the scrap lead used by Mars originally. At purchase and since then there has been noted a very slight cant to starboard over the whole keel (maybe ¾ at most) again noted but ignored at surveys. The yard is telling me several things and I am interested to know if anyone else with this keel has seen similar issues. Among the suggestions I have heard by the yard so far: do light grinding of the area then prep and patch with mat/epoxy to seal; or do the patch and also an overlay of fibreglass to give more strength (neither of which would be guaranteed); or consider a new keel(!). They seem certain the cracking is stress on the keel compounded by annual hauling at our Club marine railway for yearly bottom prep, etc; theyve also indicated they would contact Mars for advice. My concern is that none of the suggestions sound like a final solution if they are correct in the analysis and reasoning. There are also concerns re crevice corrosion in the long term in any event. So: If anyone has heard of and or dealt similar issues Id appreciate feedback. I hope to contact Rob at Southshore as he had the original information that scrap lead used in that era was the culprit and essentially a cosmetic issue. Thanks folks. List advice is a great asset.
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