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The keel fin started life as a 2000 lb piece of T1 steel. Dirk Kramers engineered the structure to withstand the tremendous grounding loads that are possible should the boat strike a submerged object.
The steel piece was then milled on a CNC machine for about 120 hours to attain a perfect foil shape.
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The structure at the top of the fin (on right side of the picture) is where the keel bearings and hydraulic ram are attached
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Our keel sponsor, Gabe Piccinin from EXCO Extrusions and Derek
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The weighted bulb, which will be attached to the bottom of the keel fin. The keel bulb weighs 2836 lbs., and has been faired and is now ready for installation onto the fin. The two stainless steel rods laying against the bulb are used to hold the bulb to the fin.
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Massive chains are needed to provide the heft to lift the keel into place. By using a chain hoist and moving the fin along the floor with a hydraulic jack, Andy Wiggers and Derek were able to life the keel fin into place.
Once in place the keel bearings were fiberglassed onto their respective bulkheads.
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This picture also shows the keel box that will be completely sealed as water will be able to enter this area while sailing. A lid on top of the keel box with a lexan window was constructed to allow Derek to see inside the box at any time.
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The keel is shown here without its weighted bulb
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The keel cants to 34 degree each side of vertical
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Artist's impression of the keel, with its weighted bulb, canted fully to starboard. The port daggerboard is shown in position.
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Once the keel bearings from Exco arrived this mockup was made. A section of the hull where the keel and bearings are to be installed was built out of plywood so that the bearings, a cardboard piston and a plywood fin would be mated before going in the boat. This allowed for calculations of bulkhead angles and measurements needed for the final installation without having to lift heavy parts.
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There are two methods of hydraulically moving the keel; via remote electrical controls from the cockpit and manually from the yachts interior.
The manual pump shown here is used to push hydraulic oil into the ram. This ram will move the top of the keel and hold it in position giving the keel the ability to cant.
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The switch on the inside of the cabin house is used to select which way the keel is to move, to port or starboard.
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