iron keel maintenence

[bffatcat]

my 1975 cast iron keel has always had some rust spots after hauling for the season In some places the rust bleeds thru the old jel coat finish on the keel. What Ive done since Ive owned the boat (10 years) is to grind the all pit spots and rust down to the bare metal and coat it with 2 part pettit metal primer before applying new ablative bottom paint. Anyone have any
comments or better ideas on iron keel maintenence

 

[Barnacle Bill]

I assume you are talking about Pettit's Rustlok Steel Primer, which is an epoxy metal primer. It is good stuff and will adhere to rusty surfaces, as long as the rust is not flaking off. If you have cleaned up the keel as best as you can (sandblasting probably being the best and then immediately cleaning and painting it, as the process of rusting takes place almost immediately) and then applied this primer, it is a good step, but I also recommend putting on Interlux's Interprotect 2000/2001 on top of that and before you apply the antifouling paint. Interlux, of course, will have their recommended primers for bare metals, but the Pettit product is good.

 

[Warren Milberg]

Petit Metal Primer (6455) and Rustlok (6980) are two different products. I've had more luck with Rustlok on the iron keel of my H28.5. I've also had very good and long lasting results in preventing rust with POR-15, which requires the use of their metal washing and etching products first.

 

[bffatcat]

Pettit Products

Anyone know the the difference between Pettit 2 part metal primer# 6455 and Pettit rustlock # 6980 I thought I would post this question on the board instead of calling up pettit customer service

 

[Steve Dion]

I would suggest that you strip the keel down to bare metal. Then you can properly prepare and seal the keel. Once that is done you can paint it with bottom paint.

 

[Fairwind]

This stuff works..Do this first, then the marine epoxy, then the bottom paint..If it's really ugly, sandblast the keel first..

http://www.por15.com/

 

[Warren Milberg]

For bffatcat:
You can look up the differences in these Petit products on their website:

http://www.pettitpaint.com/catalog_browse.asp?ictNbr=75