New to forum. Hopefully posting in right place, noticed the Livingston forum hasn’t had a new post in years. Have a 9’ Livingston since ‘82. Keep it on the beach for crabbing. I did a fiberglass repair on it about 15 years ago when a hole appeared thru keel and repaired a crack at oar locks. But this weekend, the boat was a ton heavier than normal. I’ve rolled this up and down the beach for 20+ years so was obvious something was wrong (and not me just getting older). I could hear water sloshing around the inside. Didn’t think that was possible until I Googled it and found this forum. I have a small hole in the keel again but the water doesn’t drain out of that hole. I see some people have added drain plugs to Livingstons. Looks like I need to do that so was hoping someone could recommend where I should put these drain plugs on a 9’ Livingston. After almost 40 years of service, I thought maybe time just to buy a new 9’ but the new one shows it weighs 160 lbs. I am almost positive that when I bought mine in 82 a 9’ only weighed 110 lbs (an 8’ was 100 lbs even). Tried to verify that online but unable, can anyone? Can't handle a 160 lb boat on my own.
While I make this repair I want to add a stainless steel skid on the keel. Any recommendations on best method to do that? If I just wrap fiberglass over it, eventually the fiberglass will wear out and then the skid plate could become loose. I would think the skid plate has to be exposed so what’s best method to attach? Maybe SS would not be correct material, the keel is exposed to sun all day so the thermal expansion difference of the fiberglass to SS might cause it to stress the fiberglass.
While I make this repair I want to add a stainless steel skid on the keel. Any recommendations on best method to do that? If I just wrap fiberglass over it, eventually the fiberglass will wear out and then the skid plate could become loose. I would think the skid plate has to be exposed so what’s best method to attach? Maybe SS would not be correct material, the keel is exposed to sun all day so the thermal expansion difference of the fiberglass to SS might cause it to stress the fiberglass.