Bavaria 42 Match Keel Problems

[smithy09 50]

Was this topic ever discussed on here? I have just read a very interesting Forum discussion on the problems that Bavaria have had over the last 5 years or so with the 42 Match Keels.

While I think that Bavaria have resolved the issues now, it seemed that they had massive under-design and significant quality control issues. This came to light when a keel fell off a 42 match back in 2005 during a charter regatta in Hungary. One crewman died.

The issues seemed to be that the Match version of the Bavaria was significantly lighter than the cruiser version with a bigger rig and longer keel. However the keel bolts were just bolted through the hull with insufficient backing in the form of washers and a plate. Furthermore, the backing was not bonded to the inner liner/grid, which also had bonding issues to the hull. Therefore the stress from the keel was not transferred to the grid and distributed over the hull which was only 13mm thick at this point.

In the above incident, the bolts and backing plates just pulled right through the hull. There was no mention of grounding, but I think Bavaria allluded to this..

It appears a plethora of Match 42s started turning up with flexi keels and significant cracking around the grid.

 

In the States and Europe, it seems many of these yachts have been strengthened and significantly re-built around the keel attachment area.

Has this issue been adressed in NZ? Have Bavaria 42 Match keel attachments been modified here in NZ? Has it been discussed on here before? Pics from the 2005 incident attached.

[Atom Ant 0]

I seem to recall this but apart from the loss of life these boats aren't on my radar. I'm sure someone else will know more.

[smithy09 50]

I found it quite interesting, as I have wondred quite a bit about the engineering involved with deep bulb keels with a narrow top where they attach to the bottom of the boat. The grid under the floor boards has to be quite substantial to keep it attached and transfer the load to the rest of the hull. I was pretty gobsmacked that a large company like Bavaria could get it so wrong..

I know with my old 1979 French built Dufour 29, that we hit cars in the canal du Midi (The local kids push them in for fun) full on at 6 knots and did no damage at all. But the draft was only 1.6 metres and the keel was a big fat thing. We did end up cracking the grid (same construction as the Bavaria with a bonded grid) but we hit a groin at about 12 knots coming down the Rhine. (River speed 6kn + boat speed 6kn).. It glassed back up OK, and never gave any more problems..

[w44vi 17]

I have heard that some of the cruising versions have put over sized washes as there was some flexing around the keel

 

If there is movement around the keel with just sailing loads what happens if you hit something ?

[smithy09 50]

Exactly! Quite disturbing really.

[Guest]

Old News.

One Match 42 in the country. All sorted. For Sale, but for a different reason.

One Match 38 in the country Recently sold. No issues

 

Lots of thrashed imports and old kiwi built boats have issues. To keep picking on Bavaria is unfair. However it was a major at the time and spelt the death of their performance Match range.

[smithy09 50]

Hi Jono. Not purposely picking on Bavaria, just wondered if it was widely known after I came across a thread detailing the construction faults and what had happened to a fair number of Match 42s. I have no beef with them at all.

Seems they are nice fast boats but with this one problem that can be fixed. I'm just surprised it happened in the first place with a production yacht that would have gone through a pretty rigid design process one would think, followed by substantial QA..

 

It also got me to thinking about the way that modern keels with thin sections, long length and a bulb, are attached to the hull and how the strengthening is done. This is especailly relevent in NZ with all the "turbo'd" 11s, Ross boats and the like. Is the analysis done and how strong is the result??

Discussion is good isn't it?

[Guest]

They mostly have to have upgraded floors installed to handle the concentrated (and usually larger) loads.

As discussed in other topics here, there are now international regulations requiring all design calculations to be signed off by ISAF approved auditors before a modified yacht can race offshore.

[Absolution 7]

There is an old thread around here somewhere that Ken posted when he was looking at Slipknot (Match 38). Who bought it Jono?

 

I think YY had some firsthand info about the remedial work that went into the local yachts.

[Guest]

Ok we seem to have several topics here.

1 - Match range and remedials.

Steve is a better person than me to comment as he was broking for Bavaria at the time and sailing on Slipknot. All I recall is that it was sorted when the issue arose.

2 - New owner of Sliplnot

An old P Class and Laser sailing mate of mine ex ChCh. He is busy with work and has kids and wants a fast cruiser with an eye to getting into keeler racing at some stage. I've suggested he joins me in no extras.

 

3 - Keels

Brett BW has commented on this recently. There is a new ISO standard for anyone putting on a new keel. There have been too many tragedies with keels falling off. Most recently in NZ is Time to Burn.

As I understand it new designs need to have the keel engineered and signed of, any welding has to be signed off, and and mods have to be signed off.

Gary may also have a comment.

[smithy09 50]

If anyone wants to see the forum that got me to start this thread, here it is:

http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/sailboats/bavaria-match-42-lost-its-keel-7362.html