SeaEagle Posted April 10, 2003 Posted April 10, 2003 --- It was recommended that I repost this message in this forum --- I'm building a weekender and have just discovered that when laminating the stem to the keel, I have introduced a 5+ degree lean to the port side (when looking lengthwise from the stern, the stem leans to the left). I have discovered that this has resulted from an unnoticed dip in my workshop floor. I have checked (using a spirit level) and the keel it self is straight as an arrow. The lean is only noticable from the top of the deadwood upwards. My question: I believe leaving the stem 'as is' may result in the boat being scued to the left and is therefore unacceptable. Is cutting off the stem and cutting each of the keel sides back (to allow for an overlapping join) then relaminating everything back together (flat this time) the best method of fixing this? Any advice would be kindly appreciated. Regards, SE Quote
Sailor3356 Posted April 10, 2003 Posted April 10, 2003 Wow what a problem, but it sounds like the best solution. Its hard to cut into something that you have already completed, but the sooner you start the sooner your be through it. Wisdom is gained by the information that we trip over. Quote
Craig Posted April 10, 2003 Posted April 10, 2003 If I have done the math right your stem top is ~3.4" off to the left (40" stem length??). Is there a point where the curve is concentrated or is the curve distributed along the length of the stem? If gently curved along the length, you may be able to soak the wood and warp it back toward true enough to get by. If you are really more than 5 degrees off, carefully cutting the stem pieces off the assembly and scarfing in a straight sub assembly may be the best route. What a problem! Good luck and let us know how it comes out. Quote
Barry Pyeatt Posted April 10, 2003 Posted April 10, 2003 Couple of others have had similar issues with their keel/stem. I have a front tip of stem skewed off to starboard by about an inch challenge. I placed the tip of the stem on the floor, placed a couple boards under the keel and about 500 # of concrete blocks on the stem for 3 days and it straightened out enough to assemble the bulkheads, deck, etc. The tip is still a little skewed but it won't effect performance. The primary challenge to performance is if the keel isn't straight. Otherwise the tip of the stem can be racked, (pressured) into a nearly straight configuration and just keep on going. Confidentially, not many boats are absolutley symetrical even though they look that way at first glance. You can also try soaking the side of the stem/keel with hot water and keeping it hot while you apply pressure. Would be better if you could steam it but soaking with hot water will cause it to swell on the one side. If you block it and then allow it to dryout it will most likely retain the new position. Quote
Robert Cox Posted April 12, 2003 Posted April 12, 2003 The stem on our Vacationer was also warped but to Starboard. It was only about an inch. We pulled it into the correct position when we layed the deck and again when we put the side panels on. There is no noticeable warp now. Granted the Vacationer Stem is longer than the Weekenders but it is also thicker. I would try Barry's suggestion of wetting and weighting the stem first. After doing that, if you have any warp left, I beleive you could get the rest out by doing what we did. I wouldn't want to cut and scab a new stem into the keel. I think I would have started over rather than do that. Your call. Good luck. Bob Quote
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