[Rudder]

"No seaman would have drilled a hole in the keel, creating a potential way for water to enter the hull, unless there was a very powerful reason to do so,"

Okay.

I wouldn't do it on any boat.

Okay, ship's carpenters out there: would you consider putting hole through the keel?

[SunkenCiv]

Maybe the captain was just really sure of himself. “I order a hole drilled in the boat! I’m that good!”