Hope someone out there can help, I am seeking advice on the following:


1. There is a faint hairline crack over two meters from the front of the keel going forwards where the two halves of the hull would have been joined, area 1m either side of the mast base area.

Also an indentaion of the main mast into the teak deck which suggests to me that the main mast has at some time been over tensioned possibly, and exerted too much pressure downwards.

This is the only conclusion we can come up with that may have caused this damage at the join of the hull halves.

Can anyone tell me if this is a known condition, and as to how serious it might be, and suggest best remedy of repair please?

2. Also, the rudder seems to have moved downwards which means it is now stiff to turn. Can the shaft be withdrawn for inspection/adjustment from above, or would we have to raise the boat further (1.5m) approx to remove the assembly downwards?

3. The propeller stuffing box may have to be replaced, are these parts all readily available, and if so what sort of cost might be expected for complete renewal if necessary?

The boat is soon to be under survey, is there anything else we should look for in this particular boat that is a known/common area that should be looked at?

Would much appreciate any help you can give as we are keen to put it all to proper repair and ensure we have a safe vessel.

Regards,

CKG

By Philip on Wednesday, July 03, 2002 - 07:36 pm:

Colin,

check the keel for any signs that it may have been repaired after striking something. Hitting a submerged object can cause a crack forward of the keel and the resultant shock can cause an excessive downwards pressure on the mast.Your surveyor will soon been able to tell.

By PIETRO SUPPARO on Monday, September 30, 2002 - 06:48 pm:

COLIN, I own a HR 41 from 16 years and I have seen a small crack between the two halves from then.
Now i made the antiosmosis work and therefore the cracks has disappeared, but to me nothing happened in those years except one hour of few sea water drops everytime the boat is hauled up.
To inspect the rudder shaft the matter is a little bit complicated : the union between the shaft an the rudder is made by a cone( as the propeller one )and big bolt and nut.Everything is in strong bronze and is located at the upper end of the rudder himself.
After sanding the part near where the shaft " seems " to enter in the rudder you will find solid fiberglass and light filler compound. This is the one that you have to carefully break and you will discover the bronze coned junction with bolt and nut.
The nut will be probabily corroded and the bolt will have some play and the allignment with the shaft has gone to the hell.
This is a normal maintenance to be done on that rudder portion every 3-4 years because it is quite impossible to stop the corrosion there.The boatyard has the drawings showing the matter.
About the stuffing box if you can ( means to move the engine )throw away the old pack and install the original VOLVO one diam. 30 mm. and from that day you will find only some dust in your bilge !!
This will last 4-5 years and i STRONGLY recommend to make the same modification on the rudder shaft.
Sorry for my English, I am italian.
Good luck !!!
Pietro Supparo