The Keel Fell Off My Boat… and It’s My Fault - Part 1

When the Keel Fails: A Hard Lesson in Epoxy, Purpleheart, and Boatbuilding Mistakes

Getting a call from a customer saying the keel is falling off the boat you built for them? That’s every boatbuilder’s nightmare. In this episode of Nomad Boatbuilding, Mark Reuten dives deep into a rare and frustrating failure on a wooden boat he built just last year. After months in the water, the keel began to separate—and things only got worse from there.

Join Mark in the workshop as he investigates this epoxy bond failure, shares honest reflections on what went wrong, and begins the careful process of taking the keel off without damaging the boat. Along the way, he shares practical boat repair strategies, discusses the challenges of working with Purpleheart, and talks adhesives—from West System 105/205 to G/flex and polyurethane options.

Whether you're a wooden boatbuilding professional, epoxy enthusiast, or DIY repairer, this video offers a valuable learning experience about adhesive selection, wood movement, and the importance of mechanical fasteners in keel construction.

📌 Chapters:
0:00 – The dreaded phone call
1:58 – Initial inspection of the keel
4:10 – Why the joint failed
6:23 – Removing the keel carefully
8:05 - Removing glued in plugs and screws
12:52 - Using the brace and bit for removing screws
14:08 – Using heat and hand tools
21:00 – Reflections on epoxy and wood compatibility
26:16 – What I’ll do differently next time

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🛠 Related Topics Covered:

Keelson removal techniques

Working with Purpleheart in boatbuilding

Epoxy vs polyurethane bonding

Scarf joint failure causes

Fiberglass and keel joint considerations

Lessons learned from 30+ years of boatbuilding

#WoodenBoatbuilding #BoatRepair #EpoxyFailure #WestSystem #KeelRepair #NomadBoatbuilding #DIYBoatFix #GflexEpoxy #WoodworkingMistakes #PurpleheartWood

My website: https://www.nomadboatbuilding.com
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