JWS Marine Services

Category: Keel Seams & Keel Bolts

  • Sparkman & Stephens 36f SY – Keel and plank work

    ‘Clarinet’ – The 36ft Sailing yacht was custom made by Sparkman and Stephens ltd
    The boat hit an object in the water at speed and was taking on water.
    The boat was lifted at Southsea Marina and JWS was asked to take a look at the damage caused to the keel and if any subsequent damage to the hull and hull planking had been caused, as JWS marine has a wealth of experience in the restoration and refit to the old wooden boats.

    We were instructed to supply an estimate of repair based on our findings.
    The repair required was to the keel and plank with fracturing along the plank grain, we removed the anti-foul with soda blasting and then sanded the hull clean so the hull could be checked again for any hidden damage to the planks etc.
    JWS repair the splits in the planking and splined seams by routing out along the plank length and replacing with new milled splines as required and rake out any disturbed putty. Clean up and replace old caulking as required then re-fill the seams with linseed putty as required, prime the hull and re-anti-foul the hull to finish.

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  • Sigma 41 Grounding Damage

    The Sigma came to us in 2009 after grounding damage was caused while sailing through Langstone Harbour. This caused damage to the keel, resulting in a new two-part keel being made.

    The keel was drilled and tapped to suit the template required. All new stainless steel 316 bolts, nuts and washers were supplied and the keel was finished in a two-pack epoxy primer.

    We removed the old keel and carried out any welding to cracks. All the old bedding was cleaned out from the hull landings, ready for the new keel to be fitted. We re-fitted the new keel with new keel bolts and plates. This was then filled and faired. The keel was then sanded and all exposed areas were coated in epoxy again. To finish, the keel was primed and anti-fouled.

    There was the remedial work for the inside to be completed also, so do to this we removed all soft fixtures and furnishings and tented up inside for all preparation for grinding. Four areas of delamination were noted at time of inspection, so these areas were grounded back, re-laminated with equivalent layers of matting and gel washed to finish. We also checked the hull matrix for any further de-lamination. This was found to be okay. We finished this section of work with a clean up of all areas and replacing of all soft furnishings. We also had One Degree West check the engine alignment and all was found okay.

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  • Collision Damage on Sigma 38

    The owner contacted JWS Marine Services to estimate on the damage caused on collision with an item in the water, the boat was under sail at the time and had come to a complete stop.

    Luckily the owner was able to motor her back to Southsea Marina and the next day the boat was lifted out of the water for the initial inspection.

    On inspection it was found that the keel had cracked along the keel plate and also the keel bolts that hold the keel in place were damaged also.
    JWS Supplied a cost to remove the keel and clean the area up etc, working with a surveyor, unfortunately after a lengthy chat with the him and the owner it was agreed the old keel was beyond repair, and a new one would be required.
    JWS instructed Iron Brothers to supply the complete keel as to the spec requested.

    Additional work was required to the hull matrix’s as this was completely fractured, this had to be cut away and all was replaced.
    We removed all the old anti-foul from the hull and re-applied new hull lines.

    Finally the new keel was fitted and new hull/keel join applied and all re-commissioned.

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  • Re-bedding of bilge keels on a Sadler 290

    Returning customer, normally with us for general maintenance such as anti-foul and anode change, not this time however, this time both her keels needed re-bedding.
    This was carried out during December and as you will see from the pictures it was a race against the sunlight.

    First job was to make 2 cradles to hold the keels in place while they were off the hull.
    We lifted the floor to gain access to the bolts, all fixing screws and nut needed replacing.
    Both keels were removed from the boat and the hull was moved to a blocked area.
    Once all the keel bolts were removed the keel top surfaces were cleaned, the keel bolts were taken for fabrication of new.
    All new keel bolts were fitted and the keels refitted to the hull, all excess bedding was cleaned off and new keel seams applied.

    The hull was then taped up and any section of damaged Copper Coat was repaired and sanded to activate.

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