Posted by GregSeaHawk on
URL: https://forum.seahawk17.org.uk/Michael-Hood-Pippin-120-tp4025366p4025369.html

Countrysideguy wrote

I couldn't agree more with the keel.

I may have over stressed the point about not having a keel plate to lower. In my earlier days with a SeaHawk I would often forget to lower the keel when leaving my mooring in a shallow dyke off Hickling Broad. Perhaps it was lack of experience, but I would notice the keel strop and handle were not where they should be rather than noticing a loss of performance to windward.

That may be a later project.  Once she is with me I'll be having a decent inspection.  If it's a case of a little fiberglass of the keel casing and the ballast is loose junk that is easily removable,  then it will be done sooner.  I assume ballast surrounding the casing?  If so, what would you recommend replacing it with?

Here are the pages I suggest you read initially:
https://www.seahawk17.org.uk/boat-description-hull.php#ballast
https://www.seahawk17.org.uk/owners-maintenance-fittings-keel.php#jammed

And finally, do you know of any photos of a seahawks keel slot from underneath, so I can see what hole should be there?

https://www.seahawk17.org.uk/owners-maintenance-fittings-keellittleauk.php

My own SeaHawk (sold in 2018) was a later model built with sealed ballast and I had no problems at all with the keel. However, the reports you'll see on the pages linked above suggest that to remove the ballast fully you'll first need to cut away the cabin floor and then spend several hours with a kango hammer drill tackling the ballast. Of course that may depend on how ropey and mobile the ballast is and yours could be an example where it is fairly loose and it may be much easier to remove, but I suspect it will still involve cutting away the floor and then re-fitting it after the keel work.