Swing keel prep and paint

[Gansett]

I am in the middle of painting the bottom of a Mac25. The keel has taken a beating and was not maintained by the previous owner. I pulled the pin and dropped it onto blocks. Any recommendations on prepping prior to painting and what paint to use? I am inclined to smooth with epoxy and top with a marine epoxy paint.

 

[J. Barrett]

keel prep

I just did mine this spring. My boat spends about 7 months in saltwater here in the Chesapeake so I end up doing the keel every couple of years. I have tried a few different ways to clean and paint it in an effort to find the more durable solution. I found that sandblasting it was more of a mess than it was worth. I now use a 4 inch angle grinder with a wire brush. I have not bothered with trying to smooth the keel much as I don't think the drag will much affect my sailling. As far as paint, I have tried a number of different rust converters/preventers with no real success. This year's contestant is POR-15. I have had good luck with it on cars so far. That is topcoated with several coats of rustoleum and then bottom paint. If anyone has a tried and true method I am willing to change. Good luck. -John

 

[Steve Paul]

Just supposing

J. Barrett,Have you thought about a fish oil primer, rustoleum has made them in the past. Followed up with several two part epoxy coats? Just wondered if this might give you more time between all that work.Steve P.

 

[Greg]

2 years and still good

Had the whole thing sand blasted. Then coated it with a coat of that cold zinc spray paint. Let that dry for a week, then gave it 2 coats of epoxy. Wanted to give it 3, but ran out of time. Then painted it with barrier coating, and a coat of bottom paint. No rust yet, this will be it's 3rd year in the water.

 

[Greg]

Fairring the keel

Oh, if I was to redo it, I would fair my keel before applying the zinc spray paint, and would do it with lead. Just heat the lead up on a camp stove till it's about as plyable as body putty and trowel on. Like they used to fix dents at the old body shops. Not only will it fair out the keel, but will add a little weight too.