Aluminum keel repair

[JLHays77]

i picked this up last weekend and have no info on make/model. All that I know is it was last registered in 1968 according to stickers. Landlord was left with a bunch of stuff including this boat when tenant was evicted. Anyhow, I need some help/thoughts on repairing the keel. It is split down the center. Hull itself is fine. I've been told that a piece of wood was in the center of this keel. Prior to hearing this, I was going to form a piece of sheet aluminum over the keel and rivet it to the sides.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Generally the keel strip on aluminum boats are stamped aluminm channels.

 

[Bondo]

All that I know is it was last registered in 1968 according to stickers.

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... In most States, ya got a piece of scrap aluminum without a legal registration,...

Especially if ya plan to mount a motor on it,....

 

[JLHays77]

I've got a bill of sale, all that I need according to state fish and boat site for pre-'72 boats. Property owner has court paperwork indicating they own everything left behind by tenant, so they can rightfully sell it to me. Any thoughts on the keel? I understand and agree with what Scott said about the stamped channel but the way this keel looks, either there was a wooden insert or someone tried to doctor it up before.

 

[JLHays77]

I could not upload a photo earlier. I will try again later. I know it's hard to advise without seeing something.

 

[Scott Danforth]

my guess is someone shoved a piece of wood in there because they were dragging the boat on its keel for years

 

[Watermann]

Now that you have the boat and it's legit, post up a pic of it and the damaged keep plate. I had a split keel plate on my SeaNymph and repaired it pretty easily back to being 100% dry.

 

[JLHays77]

No Title

Here's what she looks like.

 

[Watermann]

Ok, you have a riveted on keel strip that's good, since it's not something that will cause leaking. Looks like someone did a whole bunch of dragging the boat up onto the shore, probably concrete by the looks of it.

A fairly easy way to repair the damage is to use some channel aluminum that will cap over the worn down keel strip and it can be riveted on using 3/16" dia blind rivets every so often as needed to secure it.

 

[JLHays77]

Thanks Watermann, that's what I was thinking. Thanks for reaffirming my thoughts.