Keel Fairing

[Rick D]

I have a bulb lead keel that I’d like to fair. What do you suggest as a sandable filler?

 

[Jim]

Interlux

I used a product by Interlux called Watertite. It is a two part expoxy putty. It mixes up to a very creamy smooth consistency and it spreads on very nice and smooth if you get the correct shape and smoothness correct when applying, little sanding is required. Dries hard as a rock, wait a couple days to sand though if you try to sand too soon it is like sanding rubber. Much less sag and trouble than west system.

 

[Bruce Niederer]

Creating a sandable fairing putty

Interlux produces good products and WEST SYSTEM products are used together with many of their products by many of our customers. The issue about sagging is easily remedied - add more filler until the putty is the consistency you need. Use the 407 Low density filler to create a very sandable putty. With either product apply a barrier coat of unfilled epoxy to fill the porosity of the sanded surface. Each product sands easily because microballoons are used - it's easy because it's like sanding ping pong balls, so no matter how fine a sand paper you use you're always sanding through the tops of some of the microballoons. Or you can use a primer.