After hauling the H23 this year and having it pressure washed by the marina, there were some spots on the keel itself where the paint has completely flecked off. I was not present until they had already pressure washed it so I don't know when the paint flecked off (and the marina staff doesn't remember). Anyway, I prepped the bottom using the same paint that the former owner had used (Micron CSC) and it "appeared" good at the beginning of the season. Now that the keel is down to bare metal (actually rusty metal) in spots, what is recommended for repairing? Should I attempt to remove all the paint from the keel and start over or merely remove the remaining loose spots? All my sailing is in salt water so any suggestions on what to use is also appreciated. The rest of the paint held up very well except for the port side where I need to have the waterline a little higher next year.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
B
Bill O'Donovan
Remove the paint
Remove the paint from just the keel and prep for painting next year. The previous owner probably forgot to apply the metal prepaint that helps the bottom paint adhere. Check your Boat US or West Marine catalog for a quart of the stuff in the paint pages. Works great, though a different formula is required for the prop.
Remove the paint from just the keel and prep for painting next year. The previous owner probably forgot to apply the metal prepaint that helps the bottom paint adhere. Check your Boat US or West Marine catalog for a quart of the stuff in the paint pages. Works great, though a different formula is required for the prop.
Bill's correct.
Joel: If you want to do it right! You need to get the entire keel down to bright metal. This includes the pits and all. Then you do the primer job. There are some sites like West Systems that have a process. Then you can repaint the bottom just before you next splash in the spring.
Joel: If you want to do it right! You need to get the entire keel down to bright metal. This includes the pits and all. Then you do the primer job. There are some sites like West Systems that have a process. Then you can repaint the bottom just before you next splash in the spring.
T
Tim Taylor
Powder Coating?
i have an 18.5 and it's keels has some rust that, while not severe, bothers me all the same. i was wondering if anyone had attempted to powder coat their cast keels. it sounds like a great idea because the coating is baked into the metal and generally never "wears" off but there is always a catch. i guess the question is does standard bottom paint then stick to the coating? just wondering because now that i'm hauled for the season it might be the time to give it a try. Tim "Carried Away"
i have an 18.5 and it's keels has some rust that, while not severe, bothers me all the same. i was wondering if anyone had attempted to powder coat their cast keels. it sounds like a great idea because the coating is baked into the metal and generally never "wears" off but there is always a catch. i guess the question is does standard bottom paint then stick to the coating? just wondering because now that i'm hauled for the season it might be the time to give it a try. Tim "Carried Away"
Power coating not recommended.
Tim (the toolman) Taylor: I do not think that powder coating would be a good idea here. First, is it that easy to r/r the keel? Second, powder coating does not hold up well if you ever chip it. The salt water will get under the coating and then you have another mess to deal with. Go to the West Systems web site and check out their method for protecting your keel. I think you will find it MUCH cheaper and will probably last as long or longer.
Tim (the toolman) Taylor: I do not think that powder coating would be a good idea here. First, is it that easy to r/r the keel? Second, powder coating does not hold up well if you ever chip it. The salt water will get under the coating and then you have another mess to deal with. Go to the West Systems web site and check out their method for protecting your keel. I think you will find it MUCH cheaper and will probably last as long or longer.
J
Joel
Removing the keel paint
Since most are recommending removing all the paint from the keel and reprepping the keel, what's the best way to do this. I'm open to almost any method including chemicals/power sanding, etc. I figure I have about 3-4 weeks where I can work on the boat before the snow starts to really fly. Otherwise, I have to wait until March or April. (Except for drooling over all the gear I could possibly add when I start looking at the new Harken's catalog, eh?)
Since most are recommending removing all the paint from the keel and reprepping the keel, what's the best way to do this. I'm open to almost any method including chemicals/power sanding, etc. I figure I have about 3-4 weeks where I can work on the boat before the snow starts to really fly. Otherwise, I have to wait until March or April. (Except for drooling over all the gear I could possibly add when I start looking at the new Harken's catalog, eh?)
G
greg
what worked for me
You will not solve your chip problem by simply painting. The keel is covered in gel coat and flakes off as the rust spreads you will find your spots only get bigger each year. What worked for me was to take a hand held grinder to all the rust and loose gel coat all the way down to shiny metal,then apply metal primer immediatly. Next I applyed a epoxy fairing compound--got everything smooth and true, then I applied a water barrier coating and fianlly the bottom paint. I pressure wash each fall and no longer chip and flake. ps you must keep all new nicks treated to prevent new rust. good luck
You will not solve your chip problem by simply painting. The keel is covered in gel coat and flakes off as the rust spreads you will find your spots only get bigger each year. What worked for me was to take a hand held grinder to all the rust and loose gel coat all the way down to shiny metal,then apply metal primer immediatly. Next I applyed a epoxy fairing compound--got everything smooth and true, then I applied a water barrier coating and fianlly the bottom paint. I pressure wash each fall and no longer chip and flake. ps you must keep all new nicks treated to prevent new rust. good luck
S
Scott
Redid my keel 2 months ago
I had to rebed my keel, so I had the entire keel sand blasted to bright metal and then 3 coats of zinc chromate paint applied followed by the necessary fairing and then bottom paint. Hope it lasts!
I had to rebed my keel, so I had the entire keel sand blasted to bright metal and then 3 coats of zinc chromate paint applied followed by the necessary fairing and then bottom paint. Hope it lasts!
B
Bud Cook
Keel Flaking
I have a 1991 Hunter 37.5 and have a similar problem of paint flaking off large areas on the sides of my lead keel. I have used Petit ACP 50 the last five years. The yard where I pulled out said it looked like classic galvanic corrsion. The keel is bonded to the engine and the two shaft zincs were pretty well shot. Anyone have a solution to this problem? Bud Cook
I have a 1991 Hunter 37.5 and have a similar problem of paint flaking off large areas on the sides of my lead keel. I have used Petit ACP 50 the last five years. The yard where I pulled out said it looked like classic galvanic corrsion. The keel is bonded to the engine and the two shaft zincs were pretty well shot. Anyone have a solution to this problem? Bud Cook
K
Kevin
I too have some rust spots on the keel. I must say that I am impressed with the efforts people are going to strip bare, prime, fairing smooth, barrier coat and paint. Being an ex-Navy type, I will rely on the tried-tested-and-true: chip and paint. Okay, I'll also chip more than I need to, prime, gelcoat (or gelpaste), sand smooth, and then VC Tar followed by VC-17. The rust on my 16 year old keel hasn't reached the scale that requires sanding down to the bare metal. But then, I've never seen a warship sanded down to the bare metal either before repainting. Come to think of it, even a brand new warship is rusted before it gets the first coat of paint. - Kevin.
M
Mark Major
VC Tar/17?
I am currently chipping my 1986 wing keel, in search of a new coating. Apparently the keel has not been reworked since new, for there is heavy flaking of metal, with spots of original gel coat under layers of bottom paint. I had planned on removing all rust to bright metal, allowing a surface rust haze to form, and then using OSPHO to prime, then epoxy coat, then bottom paint. This was before finding this thread. Now, what's this VC Tar and VC-17? A quick search yielded nothing, and any suggestions or experience regarding my process are welcome, for this is of my own invention and I have no experience with any of these coatings being used in this manner. Thanks.
I am currently chipping my 1986 wing keel, in search of a new coating. Apparently the keel has not been reworked since new, for there is heavy flaking of metal, with spots of original gel coat under layers of bottom paint. I had planned on removing all rust to bright metal, allowing a surface rust haze to form, and then using OSPHO to prime, then epoxy coat, then bottom paint. This was before finding this thread. Now, what's this VC Tar and VC-17? A quick search yielded nothing, and any suggestions or experience regarding my process are welcome, for this is of my own invention and I have no experience with any of these coatings being used in this manner. Thanks.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.