What’s inside the padded keel

I have not heard the term "Padded Keel" but...foam will extend all the way up the bow and keel....quite a large amount. It can get soaked too. If removing foam, remove all that you can reach(use a tool of some sort to reach toward the keel an dig as much out as you can). You won't get it all , but most can be removed. If there is wet foam up in the bow it usually will become drier as you move futher up...you will know when to stop!You might want to run a space heater at the location for a couple days before adding new foam...good dry heat. Once adding the new foam...the stuff you don't reach will be sealed in...no worry there.

M3Fan wrote: "Padded Keel" is a term I heard from a Correct Craft rep at a boat show. It refers to the shape of the hull along the center. Starting in 1982 with the SN2001, CC's have generally had this trapezoid-shaped keel (hump) down the center of the hull for lift and stability. It's not some separate component of the boat- it is simply a term for part of the hull design. A picture would be worth 1000 words right now, but I'm at work.

This area of the boat, the padded keel, is not exposed when the floor and foam are removed. It is actually below the bottom of the stringers along the bilge.

Is that padded keel filled with foam? Can water get inside that keel?   

2_Nautiques wrote: Shortline, I would beg to differ with you. The area between the stringers is tapered to the centerline of the boat, thus the shape that you see from the outside.

Understood that from the stringers to the center line of the boat there is a taper which creates the shape of the padded keel. But it is not just a few layers of gla$$ under there. Something is between the gla$$ in the bilge and the gla$$ on the bottom of the boat. What's in there?

Shortline wrote: But it is not just a few layers of gla$$ under there. Something is between the gla$$ in the bilge and the gla$$ on the bottom of the boat.

Like M3 and everyone else has said, theres nothing between the main stringers- only the hull itself.

Funny, right down the center of my keel where the strut and rudder are mounted there is about an inch of something between two layers of fibergla$$. Don't know what it is though. Must be reinforcement or something.