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[tigertiger]

I will need a hole for propshaft going through a wooden keel. The keel will be about 8mm thick. and the hole abou 30mm long as it will be at an angle.

I will also have two rods inserted through the hull to attach an exteranl ballast keel.

I have two options for making the keel.
1, out of a solid piece of 8mm board.
2, making the keel out of 3 layers of 2.7mm ply. This would give me options on how the tubes are inserted through the keel.

I think my biggest problem will be alignment of the hole for the propshaft. But I could be wrong.

Any advice on the pros and cons of either method chaps?

[boatmadman]

Hi,
I think I would go the sandwich direction, cos then you could lay the shaft and keel bolts on one side, cut the middle peice around the shafts and bolts, fill any gaps and then glue on the third peice.

Ian

[MikeK]

I would agree with Ian, as long as the dia of the shaft/tubes is less than 2.7mm. Even if it is more, then leaving the space on the center sheet will provide you with a true hole to widen up
Mike

[malcolmfrary]

Adding to MikeK, I would consider adding cheeks in the area of the prop tube slot, as it is highly likely that widening the slot will introduce unwanted weakness in that area.

[tigertiger]

Adding to MikeK, I would consider adding cheeks in the area of the prop tube slot, as it is highly likely that widening the slot will introduce unwanted weakness in that area.

Is this what you mean by cheeks?

and if so am I better off using another (than the ply) material for the cheeks?

[malcolmfrary]

Yes, thats it.  For the sake of simplicty I would just use more of the same material, but there is nothing to stop the use of anything else that you think suitable.