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Ensign Sailing Forum

I have a leak!
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I did do the repair myself.  My direct email is rcastle1@mac.com.  I’d be happy to share some pics and speak with you about my process.   

Rick Castle

On Nov 5, 2024 at 13:51 -0500, Lindsey Beasley (elderbeez@yahoo.com) <ensignsailing@ensignclass.com>, wrote:

Rick, I know this is an old thread, but I’m looking at another Ensign with a crack in the keel. See pic. Did you end up doing the repair? Do you have any tips?


Lindsey Beasley

970.820.0484

Rick, you can jack the boat above the channel, support it with timbers across the channel , and then repair it.  No trailer surgery needed.

Jon Simpson
E160
So glad we don't have those problems in Texas . . .

Of course, my deck has melted, but that's an entirely different situation!

I found the source of the leak. Looks some water in the keel froze and cracked over the winter because it wasn’t leaking last fall. Crack is about 16” long along the bottom edge of port side of the keel. Fortunately the keel board of the trailer under the crack isn’t supporting any weight so I can cut out the board to make the repair. Photo attached.

Same thing happened to an Ensign here in Miami (Alan Creed’s Linda C) about 10 years ago. 

--


-- 
Doug Hanks


We had a boat here struck by lighting and left 2 perfectly made pinholes about 3 inches below the water line in the starboard bunk. There was a battery box in there but no visible damage anywhere else.  The pinholes were black as in burnt. 
Never saw anything like it. The boat was in our marina. 


Zeke. 

Rick,

 

Water in the keel can crack the keel when it freezes over the winter. There may be a small crack at the bottom. We can take a look tomorrow.

 

Vic Roberts

#2032

 

 

Finally got around to launching for the season last night and after a short time found water in the bilge below the wooden floor. I discovered the the knot meter thru-hull was leaking so I added some Teflon tape and that problem was resolved. I pumped one the water and slowly it filled again. On the second pump out I noticed a very small constant stream of water coming through a pinhole in the side of the bilge near the bottom. I had no way to stop this so I pulled the boat. Upon inspection I find no visible issues. After letting it sit overnight I noticed water dripping from the keel rest but the entire exterior of the hull seems dry so there is water in the keel escaping somehow.


has anyone had issues with cracking on the bottom of the keel? The boat was just redone last year and was in the water at the end of last season with no issues. I’m the only one who sailed the boat and know that I didn’t run it aground anywhere.


Rick Castle #875

Clifton Park, NY

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