Keel Repair

  • Czech Mate
    Posts: 9
    #1618652

    So I’ve got damage to the keel of my aluminum boat. This is causing some loose rivets and a leak.
    Luckily it’s covered by insurance.

    A questions for the group:

    1: Does it seem reasonable for everything (floors, consoles etc) to need to be removed for a new keel?

    I’ve had one shop say it’s required, one say it’s not. The labor cost to remove and re istall everything is nearly $6K!!

    2: Any consensus on a reliable repair shop?

    Thanks in advance for your opinion.

    munchy
    NULL
    Posts: 5005
    #1618653

    With solid rivets you need access to the back side in order to peen them properly. I’m unsure how else they would be properly seated without. Unless they plan on using pop rivets, then I would consider that a hack job.

    TheFamousGrouse
    St. Paul, MN
    Posts: 11908
    #1618729

    Anchor Marine in Delano is the go to place for this if you’re in the Twin Cities area. Call and talk to Vic the owners.

    Had to have my father’s boat’s keel redone. Anchor did an excellent job. As you have seen, it’s an extensive job. Plan ahead! There are very few repair shops that can do this kind of work, so they book up very fast come spring.

    As to remove floor or not, my understanding is that it’s almost always required to remove the floor. Some boats have the sides of the hull overlapping under the keel, so access to both sides is essential, but to re-rivet properly will require it in most cases. That is my understanding at least.

    Grouse

    FryDog62
    Posts: 3696
    #1618777

    Anchor Marine in Delano is the go to place for this if you’re in the Twin Cities area. Call and talk to Vic the owners.

    Had to have my father’s boat’s keel redone. Anchor did an excellent job. As you have seen, it’s an extensive job. Plan ahead! There are very few repair shops that can do this kind of work, so they book up very fast come spring.

    As to remove floor or not, my understanding is that it’s almost always required to remove the floor. Some boats have the sides of the hull overlapping under the keel, so access to both sides is essential, but to re-rivet properly will require it in most cases. That is my understanding at least.

    Grouse

    ^agreed^

    Call Vic, straight shooter… for a fair price, does good work —

    Francis K
    Champlin, MN
    Posts: 832
    #1618800

    Vic has done work on my boat as well. I’d defiantly go back to him.

    Stay away from the guy in Princeton, MN. Ship Wreck(?) is the name I think.

    Czech Mate
    Posts: 9
    #1618844

    Thanks for the advice Guys – Vic at Anchor Marine is the guy! He’s going to get it done for about 1/2 the cost of the other guys and in 1/2 the time.

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