I am new owner of a 1990 H23. It has a a crack in the forward half of the wing keel with evidence of rust. The entire leading edge of the keel has iron exposed with rust. The local boat yard in santa barbara has quoted nearly three thousand to prep, sand blast, torque keel bolt, chromate metal ballast, interprotect 2000 and repair the "smile" crack at the junction of the keel with the hull.The cost $3K Paint with base coat of MicronCSC and two coats of blue antifouling to the entir hull surface an additional $598. Is this in line? Things in Santa Barbara tend to be on the expensive side. Are all these repairs essential. The boat and trailer cost me only $4300 and all else is in fairly great condition. I plan to keep the boat in the water all summer in lake Tahoe and trailer it in the other three seasons in santa barbara with intent to sail it in the ocean for day sails. Any guidance to a new boat owner. I now understand the true meaning of the infamous "boat buck = 1K" Thanks Alex
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Buy A Book
Alex, do some reading on the subject. You'll probably find that with a lot of elbow grease and a couple of hundred dollars you can do it yourself. Talk with other sailors at your marina. Their advice is free. If your yard doesn't allow you to work on their lot...pull it home or some other place to complete the job. You never know what you can accomplish till you try. Good Luck, Jeff
Alex, do some reading on the subject. You'll probably find that with a lot of elbow grease and a couple of hundred dollars you can do it yourself. Talk with other sailors at your marina. Their advice is free. If your yard doesn't allow you to work on their lot...pull it home or some other place to complete the job. You never know what you can accomplish till you try. Good Luck, Jeff
DIY
I agree that you can do this job yourself. First don't get all bent out of shape with the rust. Iron keels rust but the keel will be around longer than the rest of the boat. If you can find the keel bolts, you are off to a good start. Grind out the crack, fill the crack with 5200 and torque down the keel. Then use a wire brush on a grinder/drill and coat with 2000 as you go along. Use bottom paint of your choice following instructions of same. Make sure you use a respirator. As suggested in an earier post, there are plenty of books around and also check the archives on this site. Not all that hard to do. Good luck and good sailing
I agree that you can do this job yourself. First don't get all bent out of shape with the rust. Iron keels rust but the keel will be around longer than the rest of the boat. If you can find the keel bolts, you are off to a good start. Grind out the crack, fill the crack with 5200 and torque down the keel. Then use a wire brush on a grinder/drill and coat with 2000 as you go along. Use bottom paint of your choice following instructions of same. Make sure you use a respirator. As suggested in an earier post, there are plenty of books around and also check the archives on this site. Not all that hard to do. Good luck and good sailing
Alex;
I will have to say highway robbery by the marina. I guess they want to pay for a trip to mars. Follow the advice in the last post and you will do fine. Just wear gloves and a mask. If you become goofy though, I will have to call you Crazy Jr. crazy Dave Condon
I will have to say highway robbery by the marina. I guess they want to pay for a trip to mars. Follow the advice in the last post and you will do fine. Just wear gloves and a mask. If you become goofy though, I will have to call you Crazy Jr. crazy Dave Condon
Get Interlux Paint Guide
Getting a book is a good idea. Interlux publishes several paint guides and one I have is about all their marine products. Preparation of iron/steel keels is one of the subjects covered. It talks about removing to bright metal (there are several degrees of this in surface coating specification lingo) and then applying a series of coatings. This project can very easily be a DYI project but only you know what your capabilities are. Surface preparation will be one of the keys in having a long-lasting job. If this is your first time I'd recommend you stick with one brand all the way through the project (use their primer, thinners, etc.) and follow the directions to the letter. This way if there is a problem you can disuss it with the manufacturer and they can help solve it. If you mix brands you most likely won't get any support or only minimal support.
Getting a book is a good idea. Interlux publishes several paint guides and one I have is about all their marine products. Preparation of iron/steel keels is one of the subjects covered. It talks about removing to bright metal (there are several degrees of this in surface coating specification lingo) and then applying a series of coatings. This project can very easily be a DYI project but only you know what your capabilities are. Surface preparation will be one of the keys in having a long-lasting job. If this is your first time I'd recommend you stick with one brand all the way through the project (use their primer, thinners, etc.) and follow the directions to the letter. This way if there is a problem you can disuss it with the manufacturer and they can help solve it. If you mix brands you most likely won't get any support or only minimal support.
keel smile repair
Alex,do this job yourself and think of it as one of the rites of passage to boat ownership. All the other post have good advice and this job is with in most people's ability to do. Some poeple will even run a wrap of fiberglass over the entire joint as part of the repair. There is alot of info in the archives also. As far as your boat yard's priceing, I think it is way out of line.There is not $500 worth (at retail) of material here even if your rented a sand blaster and had to purchase a grinder.My estimation is about 10 hours(20 max) of labor (actual working time) Do the math the boat yard is getting 125 to 250 per hour labor! As far as painting the bottom you can do this for about $200 (paint and material) and a days worth of your time.This kind of priceing is why people are getting out of boating and others are becoming there own boat repair/maintance service.As you questioned the repair cost vs. your boat purchase price and if it is "esential", I would say that some people would do nothing except a little paint and others would pay the yard bill of $3600.IMO I would do the repair myself (there is a great deal of self satisfaction to repair one's own boat)and enjoy the boat !
Alex,do this job yourself and think of it as one of the rites of passage to boat ownership. All the other post have good advice and this job is with in most people's ability to do. Some poeple will even run a wrap of fiberglass over the entire joint as part of the repair. There is alot of info in the archives also. As far as your boat yard's priceing, I think it is way out of line.There is not $500 worth (at retail) of material here even if your rented a sand blaster and had to purchase a grinder.My estimation is about 10 hours(20 max) of labor (actual working time) Do the math the boat yard is getting 125 to 250 per hour labor! As far as painting the bottom you can do this for about $200 (paint and material) and a days worth of your time.This kind of priceing is why people are getting out of boating and others are becoming there own boat repair/maintance service.As you questioned the repair cost vs. your boat purchase price and if it is "esential", I would say that some people would do nothing except a little paint and others would pay the yard bill of $3600.IMO I would do the repair myself (there is a great deal of self satisfaction to repair one's own boat)and enjoy the boat !
Keel smile
Thanks for all the advice. I have done a number of things on the boat myself including rewiring the panel. Finding the short in the mast light. Removing the motor bracket and remounting a Garelick off shore bracket. Built the conduit mast stepping rig. Have also redone all the wood on deck with 6 coats of varnish(as suggested on this forum) and brought all the wood work back to life. My boat yard will not allow me to work at the yard. Guess I'll have to see if I can do the work on the trailer. Any further advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Alex/ anxiously waiting to put this H23 in the water
Thanks for all the advice. I have done a number of things on the boat myself including rewiring the panel. Finding the short in the mast light. Removing the motor bracket and remounting a Garelick off shore bracket. Built the conduit mast stepping rig. Have also redone all the wood on deck with 6 coats of varnish(as suggested on this forum) and brought all the wood work back to life. My boat yard will not allow me to work at the yard. Guess I'll have to see if I can do the work on the trailer. Any further advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Alex/ anxiously waiting to put this H23 in the water
Learning experience !
Jump in and do it yourself! Gougeon Bros(WEST SYSTEM) has a great book on repairs such as you describe, it's the big one, about 2" thick, it covers many applications.Save the money! ED.
Jump in and do it yourself! Gougeon Bros(WEST SYSTEM) has a great book on repairs such as you describe, it's the big one, about 2" thick, it covers many applications.Save the money! ED.
Not going to be much worse in fresh water.
Alex: I'd agree with everyone else here. Try cleaning it up yourself. Go to the Interlux Paint site and they have the directions. You are going to find that it is not going to get much worse in the fresh water of Lake Tahoe. Even if you only do a Half-ass-job they don't rust very fast in fresh water. We only pay about $600-700 for bottom paint on a 31' boat in the California Delta. You may want to call around in that area and see if there is anyone in the Sacramento/Stockton area that will do this cheaper. I would think this is 25-50% over priced.
Alex: I'd agree with everyone else here. Try cleaning it up yourself. Go to the Interlux Paint site and they have the directions. You are going to find that it is not going to get much worse in the fresh water of Lake Tahoe. Even if you only do a Half-ass-job they don't rust very fast in fresh water. We only pay about $600-700 for bottom paint on a 31' boat in the California Delta. You may want to call around in that area and see if there is anyone in the Sacramento/Stockton area that will do this cheaper. I would think this is 25-50% over priced.
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