1987 Chris Craft 501 keel replacement

The keel is the backbone of a boat. Think about what happens to a body with a broken back. What would happen to the ribs (stringers) and every other conection on the boat as it flexes with a broken backbone (keel) to support it?

Is this the only 46' Pacemaker available?

It is not all doom and gloom, the rest of the boat needs to be chocked up to take the load off the keel and to hold things straight while you do the work.

I can't imagine why someone would build a motor yacht with a removable keel. If it is a fully welded one the only way to get it off is going to be to cut it off.

Be aware that when doing this that the easiest place to re weld it is going to be from the outside so any welding that needs to be done from the inside needs to be VERY carefully considered at all times or you could well find areas become in accessible during the re build phase.

The biggest questions to ask yourself at the moment are not how to do it but is it worth doing it and is the cost realistic for what you will end up with?

Biggest question for me is:

How do you weld a fiberglass boat?


1987 Chris Craft 501

https://www.google.com/#q=1987+chris+craft+501+motor+yacht

This is a fiberglass boat. The keel would be encapulated wood most likely. The only keel replacements I've ever heard of have been on metal boats or sailboats (such as to hollow out to fill with cocaine) or if their keels snapped off. Otherwise the only one I've heard of is on the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides). I tried to find pics of this boat out of water, but was unable to locate any. I suspect it has a keel similar to Valhalla's. I'd insert a pic, but can't find how to do it (more tweeking for Carl).

Basically though you can do or replace anything if you're willing to work hard enough and pay enough, but it's just not done. As I pointed out earlier, even if the OP did this what further damage has been done to the boat as a sesult of the keel situation. Sounds like the last owner of a vessel's lifespan not wanting to be stuck with the expense and hassle of being its last owner.

BTW, "the rest of the boat needs to be chocked up to take the load off the keel and to hold things straight while you do the work." doesn't work real well with most fiberglass boats. When you block them it's down the keel and at the corners of the transom, then jackstands to keep it from falling over. Even with the keel intact a fiberglass hull will lose its shape fast if the keel isn't supported. Just look at the bottoms of some boats you see that are raised on davits and left in the air instead of put on cradles.

My utmost apologies, I for some reason thought it was steel or alu, must have had those old Posts in my mind.

Thanks to the Arm Chair sailor and Ed for pointing out my mistake.

To the OP, Walk away if it is not designed and constructed to be detached leave it to the next guy.

No need for apologies K1W1. We all know you generally deal with boats a wee bit bigger than this. And we also know that you know your stuff.

You may also have been thinking of the older CCs that were steel or aluminum, and we've had several good threads on their rebuilding and replating, etc. Lots of welding there.

Something for your reading pleasure.

http://www.yachtforums.com/index.php?threads/welcome-to-the-new-yachtforums.23682/page-9#post-205400

http://www.yachtforums.com/index.php?threads/welcome-to-the-new-yachtforums.23682/page-9#post-205404

http://www.yachtforums.com/index.php?threads/welcome-to-the-new-yachtforums.23682/page-9#post-205399

There you go. Foolish me was looking for the symbol on top and missed the "Upload a File" below. Now for the OP, does removing that keel look like a job you'd like to get involved with?

I spoke to a customer who owns a 1987 Chris 501. He's a hands on owner who knows his boat inside out. He says that the keel is molded in and contains no wood core. Can't imagine why it would need "replacement' unless the boat was dropped or hard grounded.

Whether wood core or molded in, the only reasons I could think of would be if it's either broken or opened and moisture intrusion allowed. Even that would be a repair, not a replace unless the damage was very severe. In any case, a good boat to walk away from.

The seller is confused I suspect. The bottom edge of the keel may need some glass work or she had a metal "shoe" added that needs refastening. New keel? Only on sailboats