Epoxy-ing over keel cable eyelet. Bad idea ?

[langfordja]

The keel is currently off the boat so it’s easy to work on.
The eyelet looks far from brand new but appears solid, so I see no need to replace it. Plus, trying to unscrew it may create a problem that I do not currently have.
As a precaution, in case the hidden threads (of the eyelet and in the keel) are not 100%, I was considering making the existing eyelet a permanent part of the keel.
Is that a bad idea ?
I can easily epoxy putty around the eyelet and glass over the whole area, and re-drill the hole. Would epoxy/glass provide additional strength ?
If future eyelet problems occur, I would cross that bridge later.
-thanks

 

[Grotto]

If the eyelet is loose, I would find a metals guy to properly fill and retap the eyelet. If it is snug and tight sure some epoxy won't hurt. What does hurt is the keel getting loose pulling out the brackets or busting the keel trunk. Don't take 1/2 measures here. I just ordered all new lifting cable kit from CD, not because something was broke, because the fix was a wire loop and stainless wire clamps, And a pvc pipe connected with plumbing fittings

 

[langfordja]

Thanks Grotto.
I have a new cable kit, and the existing eyelet is snug, tight, and solid.

 

[pclarksurf]

My .02: Epoxying over the entirety of the Eye is not likely to produce the results (waterproof) you're looking for.

Rather I would (and have as others have done):
1) re tap / clean the threads on the keel, adjust depth as needed or warranted
2) clean the hole with reckless abandon
3) fill the entire void with unthickened West epoxy
4) Before it kicks-- pull out the excess
5) upon re-installation Locktite blue on the eye-bolt and send her home

semi- sequence of events below including some nasty before and after

 

[Hardhead]

That's a heck of a clean looking job on your keel PC. How did you get down to bare metal so well? Looks good-

 

[pclarksurf]

@Hardhead Sandblasted ($200.00 cash) followed by a quick dousing in unthickened epoxy to start the maddening layers of buildup I had to do to match my OCD

Sorry @langfordja hopefully that's useful and we didn't hijack your thread:

 

[rpludwig]

all good work and good advice...just gotta say, amazing to me that we rely on that little friggin' eye to support 550# of lead under stress of sailing...mine unscrewed and was replaced with no effort, yet secure...a suspect design IMO, yet we're all out there sailing with it (at least most of us)

 

[SG]

Glass, unless reinforced really doesn't like working in tension. The loads on the eye are often shock loads.
The concern is also differential cracking.
Also, embedding it makes corrosion of the metal and more of an issue that will be hard to diagnose.

Other than those admonishments, -- it probably is overkill to worry about these things too much.

 

[Grotto]

all good work and good advice...just gotta say, amazing to me that we rely on that little friggin' eye to support 550# of lead under stress of sailing...mine unscrewed and was replaced with no effort, yet secure...a suspect design IMO, yet we're all out there sailing with it (at least most of us)

The eye really shouldn’t be under tension while sailing. Sure you can sail with the board 1/2 way down to get through the shallows. I tend toward dropping the board slacking the wire and leaving it down till we haul out at the end of the day