Keel needs work.

[Ed Schenck]

Day 3 of ?? at the lake is history. I did a light sanding of the bottom and rudder. Also sanded the bootstripe. All at 29 degrees. Who knows what the windchill was with a north wind off the lake.

Then I made the mistake of tapping a few bubbles on the keel with the results seen in the picture. And yes, I picked up all the flakes. So I have signed up to have the keel soda blasted. Anyone done that? Will soda blasting really take the keel down to clean lead? Hard to believe.

I thought the paint looked pretty good considering it was done in October 2008. Then it was in salt water until November 2010.

 

[kloudie1]

I have a good bit of soda blasting experience from my industrial life, Ed. It works well.. leaves a bit less "tooth" on the surface than sand and does not abraid the base metal as much.. You will be happy with the result if the blaster knows his business.
It was 84F here today.. but I was doing yard work instead of sailing !??

 

[Ed Schenck]

It was 84?! There is a high sitting northwest of us and its pouring Canadian air over the lake. I think we have about six straight days of low 30's forecast. So hard to get any work done. Can't paint or varnish obviously. I want to seal the chainplates with the rig down but afraid to do that. But thanks for the experienced comments on soda blasting. Since 1998 I have wanted to have a clean smooth keel. Won't be cheap.