Paint damage to keel

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ThreeForAll
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Joined: 5/27/10
Posts: 11
Paint damage to keel

Experienced a soft grounding over the holiday weekend, probably in sand as we were able to back off quite easily. Had a diver go down and take a look and was told that the paint on the button had scraped down past the gel and lead is exposed is spots. No gouges or dents.

Any opinions on whether we need to have this repainted ASAP or is it something that can wait until our next haulout and paint job? My understanding is that while lead won't rust there could possibly be corrosion issues.

Steve M, Greg E, Kevin W
ThreeForAll
1991 C36 Mk I, Hull 1119
Bellevue, WA

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GaryB
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Joined: 10/26/08
Posts: 583

IMHO I wouldn't be too concerned, particularly with a soft grounding. I have an old mentor whose favorite saying is " You havn't been around if you havn't been aground."
I'd only be concerned, really concerned if the keel were distorted as it might affect performance.

Gary Bain
S/V "Gone With The Wind"
Catalina 36', Hull #: 1056, Year: 1990, Engine: M-35
Standard Rig
Moored: Boothbay Harbor, Maine
Home: Auburn, Maine

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LCBrandt
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Posts: 1282

Guys, that keel is indestructible. No need to repaint until you repaint the bottom for your normal maintenance. As they say in New Jersey, fuhgeddaboudit.

In a hard grounding, it is the keel's attachment to the hull that is vulnerable; but a 'gentle' soft grounding won't hurt that. A soft grounding, say on a shoaling sand bar, can expose the rudder to damage. For example, if you wind up on a fairly flat sand bottom, winds and waves could twist the boat around and bend the rudder post. Backing off, with a tow pulling from astern, can certainly damage the rudder. The C36 rudder extends nearly as deep as the keel.

You're lucky in your area you had a 'soft' grounding. Many others have experienced *hard* groundings in those waters, where you can go from 600 foot depth to on-the-rocks in about 2 minutes. When I used to teach sailing up there, I gave my students the Rule: you must be able to put your finger accurately on your location on a chart within 3 seconds. ALWAYS know where you are on the chart.

Larry Brandt
S/V High Flight #2109
Pacific Northwest, PDX-based
2002 C-36 mkII SR/FK M35B
 

pierview
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Joined: 9/27/09
Posts: 602

Larry..... please , everyone on the right coast knows "fuhgeddaboudit" is a common Brooklyn expression (from whence most New Jersyits sprang at some point).

Chuck Parker
HelenRita 2072 Mk II
2002 Tall Rig - Winged Keel
Atlantic Highlands, NJ

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JAS
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Posts: 258

Haha, I ran aground like three times in one day when I moved my boat from Newport Beach to the back bay in San Diego. The bay is like a mile or two wide back there, but is only navigable in a tiny waterway marked by signs I had never seen before, and that were saying the opposite of what I thought they were saying. I asked my diver to take a look at the damage. His description matched your description, but he said not to worry because "your boat is built like a tank" :o)

Needless to say, I broke out my Chapman's and began studying marine markers in earnest after that one!

Joel Schwartz
s/v Get-A-Grip
1993 Catalina 36 Hull #1259
Newport Beach, California

ThreeForAll
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Joined: 5/27/10
Posts: 11

Gentlemen, thanks for your thoughts and input. I think we will sit tight and wait for our next haulout unless the rudder starts feeling funny, but the diver did not note any damage there.

Sailing with charts! What a novel idea! Fuhgeddaboudit.

Steve M, Greg E, Kevin W
ThreeForAll
1991 C36 Mk I, Hull 1119
Bellevue, WA

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