Centerboard cavity

[Isla-Mae]

I am in the final stages of rebuilding a O'Day 25. The boat we taken off the trailer for the 1st time to get the bottom barrier coated. We discovered that the centerboard had been glassed in; barnacles and centerboard. After cutting it free, the centerboard was removed and is being treated with barrier coating. Now i need to know what should be done with the 2cavity. How can that narrow be properly prepped for barrier coating and anti-fouling?

 

[ruidh]

I don't think people use anti-fouling in the centerboard slot.

I'm dealing with the slot on my 23 this spring. I'm going to scrape it out as best I can and then reinstall the centerboard. I had previously sealed the outside of the keel with epoxy. If I can remove most of the rust, I may try to spray some epoxy up in the slot as well. But I have an iron keel. Yours is lead?

 

[Erieau]

I haven't painted up in the slot either. The most maintenance it's seen from me is a toilet brush, waggled around up in there with the CB down when I'm at anchor.
My CB is fairly light.

 

[Isla-Mae]

I am not as concerned with barnacles up high in the cavity; they need water flow for nutrients, it is the osmosis into the laminate that I want to prevent or stop. Prepping the surface is essential for good adhesion of an epoxy barrier coat. Am I being too thorough?

 

[Joe11688]

I bottom painted the keel slot on my O'Day 222 years ago and did the centerboard. To prep the slot you may want to remove the mold wax from the factory with Acetone first. Regardless of how old these boats are, they still have wax residue and you need to remove it if you want the paint to adhere.

I cleaned the surface well but didn't sand it as Super Shipbottom Ablative paint can adhere to bare Fiberglas and most bottom paints.
I use whatever I could to apply the bottom paint in the slot and painted two coats.

 

[Sunbird22358]

I paint the inside of the centerboard trunk every year on my DS II. A foam bush used like a "paint-pad" ie: using the flat sides of the pad works, but better is to get a small diameter roller (bought mine at LOWES, disposable and cost like $2.99 handle included, extra covers are like $1.99 for 2) It does help if you can remove the CB to paint or at least lower it 1/2 way or more.
My DS II is now 34 years old, I am third owner and no blisters yet.

 

[Isla-Mae]

Thanks all. I stapled 60 grit sandpaper over bubble- wrap unto a thin board and was able work it all the way up in the cavity. I was surprised the boat shop let me do the work.
They agreed to bath the surface with acetone before applying the coatings using thin rollers with 1/2" nap that bought at Ace h/w.
While cleaning I noticed a bung in the top curvature. I am sure it leads into the bilge but have no idea why.
We will use hard Pettit as anti-fouling; The boat will be in warmer waters.
Have fun sailing, Ahoy!

 

[Joe11688]

It sounds like you have that job pretty well knocked.
Good luck!

Joe

 

[ruidh]

I repent! I'm prepping the centerboard slot for bottom paint. Once I got my c/b out. it was a mess up there -- mussels, barnacles and rust. Scraped, treated, primed and ready for bottom paint.