Sealing compound

Applying elastic sealing compound

In order to apply the silicone-like sealing compound the hull was raised again and secured with steal supports.

The white mass is not an adhesive! The keel ballast is only held on to the hull by the bolts.

However, wood always warps a little and it is impossible to join it absolutely plane with lead (especially when it is cast). Furthermore, wood and metal, such as lead, expand differently with heat. For this reason, an elastic joint seal is required in-between to avoid water penetrating to the bolts or even into the bore holes of the keelson.

Here you can see the diameter of the bolts in direct contrast. The thicker bolts have a diameter similar to a lower arm.

The sealing compound is applied evenly and then carefully spread out, so that when the hull is lowered there is the same amount of sealing compound all over.

Around the bolts

The sealing compound is applied extra thick particularly around the bolts, so that no water can lead to corrosion there.

In this view up to the keelson you can see the precise sized bore holes for the bolts.

Lowering

While the boat builder below finishes the last details of the saliant layer, a boat builder on the right is already taking down the supports for hull, so that it can be slowly lowerd again.

On the left - next to the bow - you can see an additional steel staple support. We need these supports constantly in order to keep the hull stable. Otherwise, given its enormous size, there is a danger of deformation from hanging in the belt for hours.
Furthermore, the staple supports hold the hull in its exact position over the keel bolts even when it is windy.