For your engineering consideration
Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2014 6:01 am
Yes, yet another keel pin, bracket, engineering topic. I've got my keel out, doing the usual stuff on that. When ready to install, I'll make my own stainless bracket per all the great advice seen here. Looking ahead to that day, I'm really concerned about the factory design for holding 900 pounds of cast iron that swings up and down and with side-to-side pressures. For your review, the pix below.
Here's a pic showing the aluminum plate I installed with Marine-Tex to fill the void
In the vertical plane, we have only .250 inch of fiberglass. In the horizontal plane, a full inch of fiberglass. Obviously, the horizontal plane is what does the heavy lifting, but just fiberglass? No metal? And then the vertical plane, just a quarter inch of fiberglass? Really! And why the half moon in the plywood. Seems that plywood would have made a great place to help anchor the keel bracket. Mine has no signs of cracking or fatigue, so obviously it works, but a little more support would definitely give me more piece of mind. Welcome your thoughts and comments..
Bob
Here's a pic showing the aluminum plate I installed with Marine-Tex to fill the void
In the vertical plane, we have only .250 inch of fiberglass. In the horizontal plane, a full inch of fiberglass. Obviously, the horizontal plane is what does the heavy lifting, but just fiberglass? No metal? And then the vertical plane, just a quarter inch of fiberglass? Really! And why the half moon in the plywood. Seems that plywood would have made a great place to help anchor the keel bracket. Mine has no signs of cracking or fatigue, so obviously it works, but a little more support would definitely give me more piece of mind. Welcome your thoughts and comments..
Bob