I'm being told by my boatyard service company that I have "some epoxy problems" on the keel of my 2005 Beneteau 373 and that these are not uncommon with post-2000 Beneteaus. I'm being quoted $800 total to strip and replace the keel epoxy. Any thoughts, feedback, suggestions?
Epoxy Problems on Post 2000 Keels
- Thread starter ChinaCat373
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I had the same problem with my 2004 Beneteau 323. I actually did my own keel after attempting to get Beneteau to stand behind the repair. They declined stating that the issue was with the keel supplier who apparently is no longer in business.
The rework is no easy job, and unless you had the time and the tools as well as a yard that will let you do your own work, it's well worth the price you were quoted in my opinion. It is imperative that all of the old coating is removed and that there is no rust at all on the iron surface prior to re-coating. Hey, I had a cooperative yard, I'm retired, and am apparently a glutton for punishment, so I did it.
I used Interprotect 2000 and there is a time window involved for proper adhesion of successive coats as well as a time window for the first coat of bottom paint to properly bond.
The rework is no easy job, and unless you had the time and the tools as well as a yard that will let you do your own work, it's well worth the price you were quoted in my opinion. It is imperative that all of the old coating is removed and that there is no rust at all on the iron surface prior to re-coating. Hey, I had a cooperative yard, I'm retired, and am apparently a glutton for punishment, so I did it.
I used Interprotect 2000 and there is a time window involved for proper adhesion of successive coats as well as a time window for the first coat of bottom paint to properly bond.
Cast irons keels have always been a maintenance issue and varying greatly even between the same models.
Depending on how they are going to remove the epoxy and what they replace it with $800 could be a real bargain. Two remedies: Remove all of the loose epoxy including blisters to a bright metal surface. The other alternative is to sodablast the entire keel to bright metal.
The typical recoat is interlux primer then 5 coats of interlux 2000.
If you're only doing a 'patch' then you'll probably want to immediately prime then fair it with a thickened epoxy then interlux 2000. In either case once bright metal is exposed it has to be immediately primed for best adhesion
Note this is an ongoing maintenance issue. If done well the repair will last several years. Also if copper bottom paint comes in direct contact with cast iron it will accelerate the corrosin.
Depending on how they are going to remove the epoxy and what they replace it with $800 could be a real bargain. Two remedies: Remove all of the loose epoxy including blisters to a bright metal surface. The other alternative is to sodablast the entire keel to bright metal.
The typical recoat is interlux primer then 5 coats of interlux 2000.
If you're only doing a 'patch' then you'll probably want to immediately prime then fair it with a thickened epoxy then interlux 2000. In either case once bright metal is exposed it has to be immediately primed for best adhesion
Note this is an ongoing maintenance issue. If done well the repair will last several years. Also if copper bottom paint comes in direct contact with cast iron it will accelerate the corrosin.
To make the repair 100% complete and last 30 years, the keel must be dropped to repair the area that touches the hull, I had rust creeping in 50% of surface in that area, and 25% overall. I also found the keel/hull joint was poorly done. Get this done by a professional yard that does this all the time to ensure proper application of materials. While the keel is off, you might as well have the inside beams lamiated to the hull so they don't explode next time you kiss a rock, as I did. The yard I used has between 1 and 4 keel/rib repairs happening continously year round. Good luck!
We had B boats for the past 30 years all with cast iron keels and have made repairs to all of them. None of the 4 boats have we had to drop the keel. My repairs as described in a previous post have worked long term. Also expect that the bottom of the keel will probably 'rub' against something and remove the coating adding to normal maintenance.
Given that the newer Beneteaus keels are set in 5200 I think you'll cause more problems in dropping the keel.