1975 F32 False keel

[AwayOnBusine$$]

Anyone know why we have it. Can we remove most of it. In my mind it simply just collects water, dirt and grease. Just opened up a section of mine in the area in front of the forward drain plug. Pulled out dirt, grease and mud that I'll bet has been accumulating there since day one. Would now like to open up other areas.

[prowlersfish]

It maybe hollow but its a real keel . Are to talking about the glass over it ?

[AwayOnBusine$$]

Yes. This runs from the bulkhead at the engine compartment to the stringer under the bed.

[prowlersfish]

Nothing wrong with having a few axses holes but I would not remove the layer of of glass . I would thing it adds some structural strength .

[AwayOnBusine$$]

I am more concerned with winter freeze and the smell of stagnated bilge water that the bilge pump can not remove. Appreciate your concern.

[prowlersfish]

As too why you have it the keel is for stability its hollow due to cost and weight . Many boats have it common practice . Do a search here on "hollow keel "

[Boppy]

I have the hollow keel on my F26 and cut a big enough access hole in it to run an occasional shop vac to drain it. It bugged me for the first 2-3 years because it had a 1/4” hole in it that was too small to do any serious drainage. Started expanding the hole cautiously and realized it was a hollow keel with thin fiberglass “roof”. I don’t think there’s structural integrity over that narrow an area covering the keel. At least my boat isn’t all wobbly and wiggly (although I am, the older I get)

[AwayOnBusine$$]

I have opened mine up and lowered the bilge pump to the bottom. Much better.