Page 5

 

These illustrations of bilge plates used to be on pp 3, but have been archived here to make room for new material.

BILGE PLATES (bilge keels)

A number of people have enquired about the addition of bilge plates.  Abemama's are a success story, but unfortunately no plans exist.  They were designed on the back of a fag packet and the guy just made them up accordingly.

As far I know:-

The plates are made from 3/4" galvanised steel.  They have a small lip at the bottom and, at the top, a two sided flange, wide enough to take inside and outside bolts, through the flats already in the mould and into the saloon.  There the bolt heads are glassed over.

The flange (above) is at right angles to the main part of the plate and, when bolted onto the flats, this dictates the angle of the plate to the hull.

Top to bottom, the plate is just long enough to be about 4" (very approx) clear of the ground when the boat is stood on a flat, hard surface.  This leaves a gap to compensate for any rough ground when she settles on the harbour bottom.  It does not create much of an on-board list

The plates have stiffened the boat in swell and are good for drying out and for winter storage ashore - no cradle needed and the boat is very solid against gales, or mischief makers.

Below, I have attached such photographs as I have to hand.  They were not taken specifically to illustrate bilge keels but, at least, give some idea of one possible solution to the modification.  I have seen others, much shorter  done in glassed over wood.

 

 

 

  

ADDITION TO SHORT WOODEN KEEL

As posted on the bulletin board, here is how CW Owner Andrew Joyce solved the problem.

      

CORRECTION

The pair of photographs above are a 'before and after' duo, showing the CW 26 Toffee's bilge keels as new owner Andy Joyce  inherited them and how he stripped off the plywood version and replaced them with a bolted-on galvanised metal improvement.  Since then, he has also 'faired-in- the ensemble to a tougher and better looking addition.

Andrew has offered to give any more details to CW owners doing the same and will post a contact on the message board.  If not email the site manager and I will pass you on.

 

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  Here are some more details of bilge plates.  They are by Doug Jones of his CW 26 Severn Magpie.

Thanks Doug