Fulmar Maintenance and Repair

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Revision as of 19:48, 3 December 2014 by Flora1871 (talk | contribs) (Strengthening Fulmar Hull at Aft End of Keel)
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Strengthening Fulmar Hull at Aft End of Keel

Fulmars are known to have a weakness at the aft end of the keel rib. This may have been repaired by now and is not technically difficult for an owner to complete.

The way to check if a repair is needed, the boat needs to be out of the water, either dried out or in a cradle, but the weight of the boat must be on the keel. Sight along the hull either side of the aft end of the keel. If it looks as if there is any inward deflection of the hull around the keel, then it should be strengthened. In some cases cracks can be seen in the corners of the internal rib. Strengthening must be done with the boat afloat as it is in the correct shape. It involves removing all the floor in the main cabin aft of the table and grinding all the paint off the aft end of the internal keel rib. Three layers of 500gsm chop strand mat should be fixed to the vertical and horizontal surfaces of the rib. Do not lay over the top of the rib as this will raise the floor level. Epoxy should be used as it bonds better with old glass fibre than resin. The layers on to the hull should be feathered, easiest by tearing the mat, rather than cutting it. The top edge of the mat should be cut to lay up to the floor level. Try to make sure each recess in the rib is done as a single piece of mat as it makes the corners stronger. It is a good idea to move the bilge pump strum box further aft and seal the large hole cut through the rib for the hose to pass (the difference in level of the strum box will not affect the efficiency of the pump). Once finished the job should be flow coated and painted.


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