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Old 11-26-2019, 02:23 AM   #1
SirJohn
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City: hyannis
Vessel Name: BAG END
Vessel Model: Marine Trader 38 Sundeck
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 27
Marine Trader Bilge cement ballast removal

Good morning,
I have undertaken the project of removing the old cement/stone ballast in my marine trader. The fibreglass cloth that covered the floor of the bilge area and cement was loose and allowed water, oil, fuel and general debris to seep down into the keel for years from the previous owner. I was concerned that the water in the keel in would freeze and split the keel. I did not want to install a keel drain plug without viewing and cleaning the area.
Yesterday I used a hammer drill and removed about 200lbs of the old cement/stone mixture. The keel and bilge smelled awful with its removal.
Has anyone else ever done this project? I am thinking of leaving the keel cement-free and using it as a sump area.
I will post photos.
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