My Beneteau 37 has a steel keel, which starts rusting only a few months after a new paint job. Any recommendations for preventing the rust or is it not important? Thank you.
Keel paint
- Thread starter Tony Bakke
- Start date
We'd have to know how the keel has been treated in the past.
But steel keels are vulnerable to rust and need care.
It's fairly important. Not only for resale value but also for sailing performance, A nasty gnarly keel will slow the boat down because of drag and also because it can't be cleaned of marine growth.
You might say that you don't race. It's not just for racing performance. Sailing is a kinetic sport. Which means it' s about moving. You won't move better with a rough bottom and sailing will be less fun. Especially in light air. If you want to have a barge to enjoy the water that's one thing, but if you're bottom is foul it will impact your selling price.
Smart sailors know how expensive a bottom restoration is or how much sweat equity it takes to clean up a mess.
But steel keels are vulnerable to rust and need care.
It's fairly important. Not only for resale value but also for sailing performance, A nasty gnarly keel will slow the boat down because of drag and also because it can't be cleaned of marine growth.
You might say that you don't race. It's not just for racing performance. Sailing is a kinetic sport. Which means it' s about moving. You won't move better with a rough bottom and sailing will be less fun. Especially in light air. If you want to have a barge to enjoy the water that's one thing, but if you're bottom is foul it will impact your selling price.
Smart sailors know how expensive a bottom restoration is or how much sweat equity it takes to clean up a mess.
Bottom paint (anti fouling paint) only, will not address keel rust. The rust must be completely removed down to shiny metal and immediately coated with 2-3 coats of epoxy primer, such as interluxe 2000E. Anti fouling paint is then applied over the epoxy. I usually use a powered grinder with a wire wheel to remove the rust effectively. If rust caused deep pits and gouges, use an epoxy filler paste between epoxy primer coats and fair to a smooth surface. Beneteau initially sealed the steel keels with epoxy coatings. Do not allow this to remain untreated. If rust gets too far advanced, the keel will have to be sand blasted & recoated; quite expensive project.
