I was just about wrapping this job up...ground out rust spots I found on my Hunter 30 iron keel, sealed them with West system expoxy, faired the deeper holes, about ready to apply bottom paint.... Then today, I noticed a couple of spots where rust has developed under the epoxy. My guess is that unless you grind the entire keel (which I elected not to do this this time) it's pretty impossible to get all of the "cancer." Okay you metalurgists, what will happen if I leave these small spots now sealed under expoxy? I'm running out of time...
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running out of time...
I'd estimate you only have about 300 years of sailing time left before the keel rust will affect the trim of the boat.... The small rust spots your seeing are probably from moisture on the iron when you applied the epoxy, if it was a humid day, etc. ....I wouldn't sweat it.
I'd estimate you only have about 300 years of sailing time left before the keel rust will affect the trim of the boat.... The small rust spots your seeing are probably from moisture on the iron when you applied the epoxy, if it was a humid day, etc. ....I wouldn't sweat it.
Facing the same thing.
Dean, I'm looking at the same thing this spring. I asked around, total sand blast and reincapselate, at around $3000, but one yard worked told me that he'd seen that fail on the next haul. It looks like we'll need to attack this problem every haul. Maybe somewhere down the line it'll go away. For just about $200 extra each haul out plus elbow work. Good Luck Ken
Dean, I'm looking at the same thing this spring. I asked around, total sand blast and reincapselate, at around $3000, but one yard worked told me that he'd seen that fail on the next haul. It looks like we'll need to attack this problem every haul. Maybe somewhere down the line it'll go away. For just about $200 extra each haul out plus elbow work. Good Luck Ken
keel rust
I used OSFO(?)to treat the rust and then used the west system epoxy. Seems to be holding up OK. I think the OSFO transforms the rust back into iron somehow. I now that does not make since but I am not a chemist.
I used OSFO(?)to treat the rust and then used the west system epoxy. Seems to be holding up OK. I think the OSFO transforms the rust back into iron somehow. I now that does not make since but I am not a chemist.
what will happen if I leave these small spots now
Dean: ....they will rust. I would not worry about it. When you put the boat NEXT time, you need to strip the entire keel down to bare metal and prime it immediately. There are some instructions on how to do this on the Interlux site. Take a look at the ocean going ships. Many of them are loaded with rust and they still float. I do not think that you need to worry about anything. Just think about all those boats that never get pulled. Their keels remain intact.
Dean: ....they will rust. I would not worry about it. When you put the boat NEXT time, you need to strip the entire keel down to bare metal and prime it immediately. There are some instructions on how to do this on the Interlux site. Take a look at the ocean going ships. Many of them are loaded with rust and they still float. I do not think that you need to worry about anything. Just think about all those boats that never get pulled. Their keels remain intact.
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