Raise the flags - the keel is out!

Probably the biggest challenge I saw with the project was sorting out the lifting keel. It appeared to be stuck solid and I wasn't sure where the problem lay, though the fact that the keel bolt was so corroded that it was impossible to put a spanner on it pointed to a problem there. So today, seeing as I had some time, I attacked the bolt with an angle grinder.

I ended up having to cut both the nut and the head of the bolt off before it would loosen up. Several whacks with a hammer and punch then what remained of the bolt shot out the starboard side of the keel box. Grabbing the end of the keel by the lifting shackle and it was clear that it was moving and lowered to the ground. Now the only task was to extract it from its home.

There was no way it would budge by hand so I tried attaching a block and tackle to give a little more leverage but to no avail. There was nothing for it she would have to be tipped onto her side and the keel extracted out of the bottom. A little brute force and ignorance along with careful placement of some carpet and she was balanced on her side and chocked in place.

Fortunately at this moment my Dad turned up and held the hull while I persuaded the keel from her home. It was clear that the corrosion was fairly advanced in places as the lower edge of the mild steel came away in large flakes. This was especially the case around the slot for the bolt as this part didn't want to release but with a bit more ignorance we managed to free it.

I suspect the rusted part may be too far gone to rescue so I'm going to investigate having a replacement made either in galvanised steel or aluminium alloy. I'll also reinforce the keel box very much like Bill Serjeant has on his C Type with some extra glass pads and washers. It is always good to avoid dissimilar metals from touching each other so a suitable plastic tube will go over the bolt.

Very corroded along the bottom and around the slot - otherwise fine!

and the remains of the bolt weren't much better

So I'm very pleased to have that job out of the way and I also took the old mast step off. I'm hoping to build a tabernacle for her so that can go into the bin or on the fire - it's the wrong size for the mast that came with her anyway.

New ply base to build along with a compression pad inside - then the tabernacle

and the compression post needs making as well

It once has a depth gauge!

 At least something fits - the drain plug screws all the way in

Next task - remove all the old wood from the cross brace and build a new one. Should be able to have that done during the week as tomorrow we're helping out at the marathon sorting out the runner's bags at the end. It's a long day, leaving the house at 6am and not returning until 7pm, but it's great to feel a part of an amazing event, though our thoughts will be for the dead and injured from the atrocities in Boston.