Boat Building Forum

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Re: Strip: Installing a skeg
By:podge
Date: 4/30/2009, 3:23 pm
In Response To: Strip: Installing a skeg (Claudia)

: I've decided to install a skeg on my kayak. The issue I'm worried about is
: how to install it watertight and especially how to make sure that no water
: can sneak in between the two layers of glass covering the inside and
: outside of my boat. I know that to install carry loops the best thing to
: do is to drill out a hole, epoxy the inside, put a dowel through, then
: drill the hole for the string through the dowel. Would you do something
: similar for the skeg? Or would you just cut the hole and epoxy the skeg
: box in there? It will of course be attached by fiberglass strips on the
: inside as well.

Hi Claudia,
I installed a skeg in my north star but the skeg box was one of those 'univeral jobs' bought from kari tek in scotland and needed to be bedded to the hull. I installed it using a product called silkaflex {in Irl} which is marine silicone sealant and the usual epoxy layers as discussed above. I only mention it because I didn't know that ordinary silicone sealant will fail in sea water so thought I'd pass on the tip - but everyone else probably knew that already :)
A skeg equipped NS is a total blast in big following seas - all hail Rob Mack.
pat

Messages In This Thread

Strip: Installing a skeg
Claudia -- 4/29/2009, 11:55 pm
Re: Strip: Installing a skeg
podge -- 4/30/2009, 3:23 pm
Re: Strip: Installing a skeg
Jay Babina -- 4/30/2009, 8:33 am