Help getting shape glassing in new keel

[Cameltop109]

After finding a small hole in the keel where the centre rollers have crushed a hole I quickly discovered a rotten floor etc having never glassed before turning into a big project. I ended up cutting (probably by mistake) a small peice out of the keel and have fibreglassed in a new peice however really struggling to get the shape. I have gone thicker than the existing and sanding it down to try shape it but not really working to well. Any tips or help would be much appreciated

 

[sphelps]

Grind your patch down a little further than your shape . Then use some fairing compound to fill it back up to just past finish level . It will sand easier . Get you a block of foam and cut your V shape into the foam to match the profile as close as you can .. Then glue some 60 or 80 grit paper in the profile on the foam . Use that to sand your keel and it should get you close ..

 

[Cameltop109]

Great tip thanks for that. I have layered about 8 layers of 1708 and csm. Would that suffice or need some more

 

[gm280]

Great tip thanks for that. I have layered about 8 layers of 1708 and csm. Would that suffice or need some more

I think that would cover it IF you covered the original hole properly. Usually you apply the fist layer, then make the next layer a little larger to cover over the first and so on. If that is what you did, you should be good to go. How does the inside look?

 

[Woodonglass]

do you have access to the damaged keel from the inside?

 

[Cameltop109]

Yes the hull is completely bare just cutting up stringers today. On the inside I layered 2 layers of 1708 and will cover some more when I begin tabbing. Was told there would be no strength benefits by layering up from the inside

 

[Woodonglass]

Actually that's incorrect. Best strength is when BOTH sides have new glass for the patch. Sphelps gave you great advice on how to shape the outside. You can make a cardboard cutout of the keels profile to aide in getting the shape.

 

[gm280]

Obviously having access from both sides offers a much superior repair. I didn't know you have it gutted trying to do this. Like previously stated from Woodonglas and Sphelps, attack it from both sides for a way better option. They knows what they talks about!

 

[Cameltop109]

Okay great help guys should be able to get the repair up to scratch now