Can anyone tell me the best way to ensure that my keel bulb is parallel with the hull? And just where is the centerline on the hull? I see that many people say to align it, but no one give tips. It doesn’t seem to be a simple task, since, I think it will depend on how the boat lays in the water???
Thanks!
Johnny
J-5-0
5-0@johnny-in-korea.com
“Mundo Nulla Fides”
Here is a keel and bulb alignment jig that Greg V uses. It looks like it does an excellent job:
http://members.tripod.com/~ghmyc_1m/photos_triplecrown_gv.html
Will Gorgen
<blockquote id=“quote”><font size=“1” face=“Verdana, Arial, Helvetica” id=“quote”>quote:<hr height=“1” noshade id=“quote”>Originally posted by johnny50
Can anyone tell me the best way to ensure that my keel bulb is parallel with the hull?<hr height=“1” noshade id=“quote”></blockquote id=“quote”></font id=“quote”>
Hi Johnny
What is your boat, and why would you want your bulb parallel?
Lester Gilbert
http://www.iomclass.org/
http://www.onemetre.net/
Lester,
I think Johnny wants to get the long axis of the bulb parallel to the centerline (in the plan view). I’m guessing you are asking about nose up or nose down in the side view, right?
Will Gorgen
<blockquote id=“quote”><font size=“1” face=“Verdana, Arial, Helvetica” id=“quote”>quote:<hr height=“1” noshade id=“quote”>Originally posted by wgorgen
I think Johnny wants to get the long axis of the bulb parallel to the centerline (in the plan view).<hr height=“1” noshade id=“quote”></blockquote id=“quote”></font id=“quote”>
Hi Will
Ah! Understood.
<blockquote id=“quote”><font size=“1” face=“Verdana, Arial, Helvetica” id=“quote”>quote:<hr height=“1” noshade id=“quote”>I’m guessing you are asking about nose up or nose down in the side view, right?<hr height=“1” noshade id=“quote”></blockquote id=“quote”></font id=“quote”>
Right.
Lester Gilbert
http://www.iomclass.org/
http://www.onemetre.net/
you actually want a 1 or 2 degree up angle toward the bow for most performance models. even 5 degrees wouldnt hurt. one way to do it which is difficult is assuming there is a perpendicular edge on the fin to the water line, make sure the bottom of the fin is cut perpendicular. to the perpendicular edge. if the slot is cut halfway or all the way down the bulb you can draw a line through the center of the bulb on the side to give you an eye sight as to what is perpendicular. from here some art and eyeballs are good along with a triangle. Or you could shim the bulb so that it is level(resting on the shims), once you know that is level then you can position the fin in the bulb and take a couple readings from a level and that will tell you if the bulb and fin are perpendicular. Spot some CA glue to hold it and take another reading. Assuming it is ok then use permanent glue. If the fin and bulb detach from each other you can glue shims in the slot to make sure when you reattach that is is lined up correctly. Depends really on what you have for a set up, no really solid technique that I know of other than shims, lines and levels. NEVER eyeball it with the boat(when it looks right its almost always wrong because it is so difficult to line up the waterline. with a bulb hanging many inches below. Good luck