Metal pipe in keel?

[hemidoc]

My new progect is an 89 Invader 21' bowrider. I'm redoing the deck and stringers and eliminating the foam. Amywho there is a metal pipe about 1and1/2" in diamater that goes along much af the keel inside the boat and ends just before the engine. This is an I/O Merc 5.7 any ideas what this is for.
The boat does have the stringers that are next to the engine stop just infront of the engine at a bulkhead then the stringers from that bulkhead foward are about 3" inward on each side.
I'm not planning on removing the pipe just wondering
Thanks

 

[Mark42]

Re: Metal pipe in keel?

Tubes in the keel are usually for allowing water to drain to the bilge. Never heard of one being steel, due the the inherent rust prone environment of a damp bilge. They are usually PVC. Are there any holes along its length to let water in?

It might also have been added to strengthen the keel. But that is just a guess.

Got pics?

 

[hemidoc]

Re: Metal pipe in keel?

Tubes in the keel are usually for allowing water to drain to the bilge. Never heard of one being steel, due the the inherent rust prone environment of a damp bilge. They are usually PVC. Are there any holes along its length to let water in?

It might also have been added to strengthen the keel. But that is just a guess.

Got pics?

I'll get a pic t-morrow after I clean out some of the mess in there and it's daylight.
I don't know that it's steel but definately metal. No holes in it but drainage holes in the bulkhead next to it.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Metal pipe in keel?

Mine from my 73 Sea Ray was stainless steel. Depends on the boat quality I guess, or what materials were cheaply or readily available.

 

[hemidoc]

Re: Metal pipe in keel?

Got pics?

Here's some

In this one it shows the pipe on the keel

In this on it shows the unequal stringers. They come up a few feet meet a bulkhead then the stringers going forward are slighty inward