Keel crack

[rgranger]

A quick way to get the bottom paint off is to mix some lye or other strong base with some lime and make a past with water. Smear that over the area you want to strip the paint. Let it dry and pressure wash off. If you are doing a small area, "Easy Off" oven cleaner is an expensive source for the same ingredients.... but easier to use and prepare. If you are only stripping the area around the crack... easy off might be the better way to go.

 

[jdrutten]

I seem to remember someone mentioned that paint stripper recipe a while back. Must've been you! Might be a good project to test it out. God knows it needs it.

 

[dlochner]

I certainly won't be attempting to apply any epoxy (or pounding) until temps warm up again for a few days in the spring. Stupid winter!

Remember, it is not so much the air temp that affects epoxy (or polyester) resin, it is the substrate material. That lead keel will be huge heat sink. Check the keel temp before applying the epoxy.

 

[rgranger]

I seem to remember someone mentioned that paint stripper recipe a while back. Must've been you! Might be a good project to test it out. God knows it needs it.

Yup... that was me. I post this a few times a year. I hope to save some poor sole a bunch of sanding time and lung damage fromt the dust.

 

[jdrutten]

Just a follow up on this. It was easy enough just to scrape away the paint in the spine of the fin and then wire brushed to reveal a long crack. I was surprised by how soft it felt. Seemed like I could wire brush away the whole keel with a little more time. Anyway, then I wire brushed some neat epoxy into the crack, followed by thickened epoxy. Now I just need to clean it up and paint.

 

[jaysweet]

Just a follow up on this. It was easy enough just to scrape away the paint in the spine of the fin and then wire brushed to reveal a long crack. I was surprised by how soft it felt. Seemed like I could wire brush away the whole keel with a little more time. Anyway, then I wire brushed some neat epoxy into the crack, followed by thickened epoxy. Now I just need to clean it up and paint.

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As your H306 brother-in-arms, I think you did exactly the right thing. Don't over-think it, paint it, launch, and enjoy your boat.