Ken, The older Willards, like Elsea have keels filled with cement. The only difference is that in the Willards the cement contains iron fillings. When we bought Elsea much of the top layer had started to brake up. I removed the lose stuff and replaced it with Portland cement. I then covered that with waterproof concrete paint so the spilled liquids would not penetrate. This has worked quite well. Since the cement is somewhat pores you need to put on something so that it doesn't absorb liquids. If I remember correctly the ballast for Bojum (sp?) or one of the other Michael Keasten boats was specified to be cement covered with stuff they put on mobile home roofs. Another fellow I met during spring prep had a Marine Trader. He had not understood the theory of engine alignment. One or two engine mounts were loose so he cranked them down. The now very badly misaligned shaft ruined the stern tube. He found that in his boat the tube was set in "cement". Mark Stypinski M/V Elsea 1974 30 Willard Vega Voyager http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Rapids/7196/ W (517) 335-3931 H (517) 333-5915 MTOA 1122 ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com