Facing my fears

Now that the keel has come off, I have decided on a major expansion, to replace it. If it were left in the boat, two major repairs would be required: one at the centerboard trunk, as discovered by Scott 10 years ago, where two inches of the keel from the starboard edge of the centerboard slot is delignified; and a second at the bottom rudder fitting, where a large check has split the plank away from the stern post. Besides the critical major repairs, there are at least four large splits where knots in the oak have failed, and the gaps should be filled with something. In the process of rebuilding the keel, all the bolts would have to be removed and the holes would need to be bunged and rebored, to ensure tightness. With a new keel, the holes would be tight and the original frame pockets will be removed, so the quantity of exposed end grain will be vastly reduced.
Progress to date:

• Remove all frame-to-floor bolts and floors on odd-numbered frames from 13 to 21, and all half-floors from 24 to 29.
• Replace floors at 21, 19, and 17.
• Reef caulking below the stringer for plank reconditioning
• Reconditioned 3 planks.
• Removed centerboard sheave
• Removed bronze centerboard trunk port lateral bolt

Additional tasks:

• Replace plank #3A and 3B starboard
• Replace plank #3A port
• Replace Keel