Looking for some advice...
I am in the process of installing the keel trunk for my custom build. This is my first build and I have mostly followed the balsa strip plank build methods outlined in the USOM construction guide. I fabricated a full length keel trunk and made it a bit longer than needed.

My question to those of you that have done this before -- Whats works best
1 - epoxy the keel trunk to the keel plank, above the hull cutout for the keel, or
2 - widen the hole in the hull to extend the keel trunk all the way through the hull, epoxy it in place and fair it flush.

From what I can tell from the construction guide it looks like the trunk is above the keel plank and glued to the top of the keel plank and hull interior. Maybe I am thinking too hard but if it goes all the way through the hull wouldnt there be less chance of leakage into the balsa core since the loading / working of the keel would be protected by the trunk.

PS -- a tip for making the trunk that worked well for me. I made an extra long matching male plug from balsa (its rectangular by the way). I then covered it with some large heat shrink tubing thats for battery packs and heated it to shrink it really tight. Fiberglassed directly over the heat shrink. Once it set I loosened it a bit with a putty knife and then pushed the balsa plug out the center away from the FG exterior. The epoxy did not adhear to the heat shrink. Fairly good fit to the keel - maybe a tad loose but I think a thin layer of epoxy on the keel stem will tighten it up nicely.

Next time I might try using the heat shrink directly over the actual keel stem. That should be pretty close to perfect fit.

Thanks,
Spin

Spin,
Don't be too frugal with the epoxy or however you attach the keel. Any force that is exerted on your boat will eventually be exerted on the keel and it's attaching points. That means it has to be fairly strong. Not a whole lot of point in making it stronger than the rest of the baot's structure, but at least as strong is a good rule.
The choice between an 'in-hull' trunk and a 'through-hull' trunk sort of depends on how much weight is going to be a problem for your boat. If done correctly, the 'in-hull is just as strong as the 'through-hull'. If the keel is going to be detachable then the through-hull thingy might be more convenient. So, now you get to decide which to do...
- 'Doc

have you had a look at some other yachts out there???
if i was you i would do it similar to the north wind

Thanks guys for the suggestions. I dinked around with the two fitting possibilities and I have decided to not have the trunk go through the hull. Looks like the in-hull install may be a bit easier for alignment. During the final fairing process I think that I can get the exposed hull section sealed thouroughly enough.

Thanks again -- off to the cutt'n n glue'n
spin