Swing Keel Maintenance

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suvh8er

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Apr 18, 2014
44
MacGregor 25S Dewey Beach
Hello everyone. I am a little more than halfway through sanding off the old bottom paint on my Mac 25 in prep. for an epoxy barrier coat and antifoul paint. I noticed when I dropped the keel that there is some pretty heavy corrosion above where the previous owner was unable to paint. Can I get away with just scraping and wire wheeling the keel and then covering it in epoxy/ antifoul paint ? I don't think I can handle removing the keel by myself.

ForumRunner_20150108_205532.jpg
 
justsomeguy

justsomeguy

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Feb 20, 2011
8,062
Island Packet 35 Tucson, AZ/San Carlos, MX
One thing you could do to put your mind at rest, is to find out the condition of your pivot bolt, and the amount of cast iron surrounding it.

This you could do yourself with a bottle jack, a little preparation, and a good eye.

Stick the jack under the pivot point, take up the weight, and remove the bolt. Don't lose any washers between the liner and keel trunk on its port side!

Put a mark on the keel at a point level with your bottom, and slowly lower the jack, noting the distance the mark travels, until you can see the upper edge of your keel through the bolt hole. You'll be up and down the ladder a lot here, as you're alone.

Don't lower the keel to the point that it's free of the keel trunk recess without providing vertical support!

http://tomeshew.wordpress.com
 
S

suvh8er

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Apr 18, 2014
44
MacGregor 25S Dewey Beach
justsomeguy said:
Put a mark on the keel at a point level with your bottom, and slowly lower the jack, noting the distance the mark travels, until you can see the upper edge of your keel through the bolt hole. You'll be up and down the ladder a lot here, as you're alone.

So with this technique, I should be able to see how much iron is left around the pivot bolt hole?


I am seriously considering dropping the keel to have better access to the keel trunk (for sanding and repainting) as well as to paint/ epoxy the keel. If the keel seems to have enough iron around the pivot hole would this be a waste of time? I would be doing this solo BTW. I do plan on leaving this boat in the water for some time.
Click to expand
 
justsomeguy

justsomeguy

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Feb 20, 2011
8,062
Island Packet 35 Tucson, AZ/San Carlos, MX
suvh8er said:
So with this technique, I should be able to see how much iron is left around the pivot bolt hole?


I am seriously considering dropping the keel to have better access to the keel trunk (for sanding and repainting) as well as to paint/ epoxy the keel. If the keel seems to have enough iron around the pivot hole would this be a waste of time? I would be doing this solo BTW. I do plan on leaving this boat in the water for some time.
Click to expand
Yes, I believe you could ascertain the amount of meat you've got remaining above the bolt using this technique.

At least, the distance from the upper edge of the hole to the top of the keel. ;)

I was very daunted by the prospect of having that keel flop onto its side when removing and installing it, and I had helpers. If you can't get help, you'd better have your ducks in a row.

"Waste of time"? No, I don't think the peace of mind you'll create by refurbing the keel would be a waste of time.
 
B

Barnacle Bill

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Jun 9, 2008
1,817
- -- -Bayfield
You can drop the keel and you can build a cradle out of 2x4's to hold it in the upright position when you drop it out of the boat (gently) so no one gets hurt. Then the BEST thing to do would be to sandblast it and then prime it immediately. If you are unable to sand blast it, then take a grinder wheel to it to remove as much rust as you can. Then you can clean it and then paint it. Pettit Paint makes a Rust Lock Epoxy primer that you can paint right on to the rust and it adheres very well. Then use Interlux Epoxy 2000/2001 primer on top of that, then your antifouling paint. Replace the keel.
 
Tsatzsue

Tsatzsue

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May 16, 2011
555
Macgregor V-25 Charlton, MA- Trailer
Check out my posts on NE Trailer Sailors website in the forum. I have pulled mine out several times. No a big deal if you prepare properly. All is explained there. I used the POR15 complete process on my trailer and keel. Both look great after a season with just a little rub on the top. Yearly maint. will be needed to touch up. Rustoleum industrial top coat. POR will discolor in the sun. I even made a cool gantry to get the trailer out.
 
S

suvh8er

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Apr 18, 2014
44
MacGregor 25S Dewey Beach
I dropped the keel successfully without incident. The pivot hole looks fine as you can see in the first picture. The lock down hole looks a little rough but I will patch it with some epoxy and it should be fine. I plan on sanding off the rough and then painting with
InterProtect 2000 a few times before covering in antifoul.
 

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