EPOXY PAINT FOR KEEL

[Roger Cunningham]

Can any of you suggest a good epoxy type paint for the swing keel. I want something that will hold up well in salt water for up to 6 months.

 

[Russ King]

Here goes...

The people who hang out at the Discussion Forum at www.boatbuilding.com can answer your question better, but this is what I remember:1. You're talking about a metal (iron?) keel, I think. The first thing you need to do is strip all the old epoxy, paint, and rust off.2. Before you epoxy the metal, you need to prep the metal surface. West System has a special etching solution for this (check out www.concentric.net/~Westsys/ for more information).3. You probably need a minimum of 3 coats of epoxy. Lightly sand between coats.Be sure to wear protective gear when working with epoxy; it is a hazardous substance. Minimum equipment: Tyvek suit, chemical respirator, rubber gloves

 

[Russ King]

Oops

Those instructions are if you want to epoxy your keel. If you just want to paint, try a good 2-part epoxy paint from Interlux or some other well-known paint company. Awlgrip is the best, I'm told, but it's also the most expensive, and needs special equipment or a shop.