Keel Plate Gasket

[Mike Silverton]

Once I had my boat in the water I realized that I needed to replace my keel plate gasket.  Designed one out of 3/8 neoprene.  Everything lines up well except of course the notch for the keel wedges. 

Should I raise the keel, remove the wedges, glue the gasket in place?  Or, notch around the wedges.  There seems to be a good 1/4 inch border for the gasket to seal around the wedges.

Thoughts?

Thanks, Mike

[Dean Nelson]

WATER WILL FIND A WAY IN through cracks and gaps.  If it were my boat needing the keel plate gasket replaced, I would take the keel wedges off and then replace the gasket.  If needed, shave a little bit off the top of the keel wedges to allow for the thickness of the gasket.

[Mike Silverton]

WATER WILL FIND A WAY IN through cracks and gaps.  If it were my boat needing the keel plate gasket replaced, I would take the keel wedges off and then replace the gasket.  If needed, shave a little bit off the top of the keel wedges to allow for the thickness of the gasket.

Thanks for the advice Dean.  Any surpises when removing those keel wedges?

Mike

[Dean Nelson]

I replaced my keel wedges several years ago due to cracks near the bottom screws.  The keel wedges on my boat were easy to take off and replace.  Note that the hole spacing and shape of the wedges are such that there is a starboard wedge and a port wedge.

[Don Corey]

Please note that the screws are three different lengths with longest being for the top of the wedges.