Small crack in the wing keel

Status
Not open for further replies.
Bob S

Bob S

.
Sep 27, 2007
1,813
Beneteau 393 New Bedford, MA
When i pulled the boat last fall I noticed a small crack along the wing of my keel. I'm not sure how it happened. the only thing I can think of was I got hung up on my mooring sailing of it. It might be the results of the mooring chain.

It almost looks like it's delaminating. I was going to grind it out with a Dremel tool and use a west system epoxy to fill it back. Is this the proper fix? Would I need to paint it with a barrier paint before using ablative paint?
 

Attachments

Ross

Ross

.
Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
The first thing to do is get the paint off so you can get a good look. I would guess that what you see is the tip of the iceberg.
 
sailaway78

sailaway78

.
May 11, 2005
3,431
Seidelman S37 Slidell, La.
Agree

I agree with Ross. No way of telling till you get a better look. Also you need to determine what the keel is made of. Some production boats use cast iron, some lead. Cast iron is very brittle, and chances are that a crack in cast iron goes all the way through. Lead is very soft, and could be just a surface crack in lead. The material will have to be considered before determining a course of action.
 
Ross

Ross

.
Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Re: Agree

From what I "COULD " see it looks like the wing is a laminate. The damage out at the end of the wing looks like fiberglass under the paint. ?
 
Bob S

Bob S

.
Sep 27, 2007
1,813
Beneteau 393 New Bedford, MA
I agree Ross, I think it's fiberglass. I will have to wait a bit the boat looks like this now.
 

Attachments

Maine Sail

Maine Sail

.
Feb 6, 1998
11,760
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
That keel

That keel is a solid one piece lead casting. It is then faired over at the factory and then barrier coated (depending upon when made it may not have been barrier coated). What I see from the photos is a bit of delam of the fairing. Grind it out re-fair and re-barrier coat or leave it as it is. It won't really hurt the lead any and is more an issue of flow and speed.....

It's also quite possible that it is many layers of hard paint beginning to fail...
 
Ross

Ross

.
Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
bsmith said:
I agree Ross, I think it's fiberglass. I will have to wait a bit the boat looks like this now.
Click to expand
We only got 6 inches of that white fluffy stuff and it should be all gone by Saturday.
 
Tim R.

Tim R.

.
May 27, 2004
3,626
Caliber 40 Long Range Cruiser Portland, Maine
Maine Sail said:
That keel is a solid one piece lead casting. It is then faired over at the factory and then barrier coated (depending upon when made it may not have been barrier coated). What I see from the photos is a bit of delam of the fairing. Grind it out re-fair and re-barrier coat or leave it as it is. It won't really hurt the lead any and is more an issue of flow and speed.....

It's also quite possible that it is many layers of hard paint beginning to fail...
Click to expand
Not trying to second guess you Maine but if he fairs with an epoxy product like West system, why add barrier coat?
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

.
Feb 6, 1998
11,760
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Good question Tim..

Tim R. said:
Not trying to second guess you Maine but if he fairs with an epoxy product like West system, why add barrier coat?
Click to expand
You generally would not have to with an epoxy product but with the frugal nature of this board I have to sometimes assume folks will use a polyester based Bondo product from Wal*mart..;)

Also phenolic micro-balloons, the red fairing filler often used with epoxy, can absorb moisture if sanded fair and not top coated with epoxy resin. While not like a Bondo where it can totally saturate, moisture will only penetrate the top sanded balloons but this is often enough to prevent paint adhesion after the moisture get to this layer of balloons. A quick brush of resin over the sanded balloons will stop this just as a barrier coat product would..
 
Tim R.

Tim R.

.
May 27, 2004
3,626
Caliber 40 Long Range Cruiser Portland, Maine
Agreed. I hope those of whom you speak realise it is cheaper in the long run to use epoxy fairing compund with the proper filler than to cheap out on this and spend $40 for a qt. of barrier that will go mostly wasted.
 
RON20406

RON20406

.
Jan 22, 2008
280
Hunter 25_73-83 NORTH POINT MARINA/WINTHROP HA IL
bsmith said:
When i pulled the boat last fall I noticed a small crack along the wing of my keel. I'm not sure how it happened. the only thing I can think of was I got hung up on my mooring sailing of it. It might be the results of the mooring chain.

It almost looks like it's delaminating. I was going to grind it out with a Dremel tool and use a west system epoxy to fill it back. Is this the proper fix? Would I need to paint it with a barrier paint before using ablative paint?
Click to expand
Delamination of a keel is fairly common. If it is lead or iron, the metal must be properly etched before the fairing compound is applied. If it is not, they delaminate. You might be in for a bigger job than you thought and you must grind the laminate back to where the fairing compound adheres to the metal. The best tool is an orbital sander with a 40 grit disc. Feather the edges of the laminate where the void ends, properly etch with a wire brush, clean with acetone or a dewaxer solvent, and by all means use only West System if you want a good job. It probably was done with Interlux originally and that's why it failed. I have used West System for 20 years and never had a failure. I personally think Interlux is a marginal product. Rognvald
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top Bottom