Keel water

[Diverted Income]

Time to start thinking about a fall haul out. Wondering what the tricks are to getting the water out of the keel? Do F-32's have a drain for the keel? I do not have access to the topside (at least yet). What do you guys recommend?
Thanks!

[mikeandanne]

Our boat did not have a drain for the keel--- all I did was add a brass drain in the false bottom-- 1" hole as I remember (only drill thru the false bilge,you can tell by tapping around,it sounds hollow in the center) then attach brass collar and you have a removable plug,just suck the water that collects in there out and it can be sealed back up--- mine is installed in the bilge just under the stairs in front of that bulkhead---- got about 10 quarts or so of nice clean water out the first time,no odor whatsoever -- the good thing about that keel as I understand it is solid glass with no foam etc---

there have been several threads about this with pics,just search and you can see how it looks--- Mike

[Diverted Income]

Is that as far aft as the keel runs? Does it stop at the engine room? Thanks!

[mikeandanne]

Is that as far aft as the keel runs? Does it stop at the engine room? Thanks!

I understand that the false bilge goes as far back as the actual keel( according to Beacon Bob)-----in my case I could not get the drill in any further aft because of battery box and genny as I originally wanted to instal two plugs---the one works fine though, no need to get every last drop out,just think of all the years the boats sat winters before we got them---

There was a boat beside me last winter ( not a Trojan) that had the keel bleeding--- turns out ,full of wet foam, they had to cut it open and pull the wet foam out .Then it took quite a while to dry it before glassing it back up.