Cast Iron keel replacement

[6603b]

Hi all, I've been through the archives with no help so I'm here now.<br />I'm rebuilding a 1962 S&S design Sailmaster 22. I had to remove the keel, and now am preparing to reinstall it. I've chipped off the big flakey stuff and used a needle scailer on the rest of it, then went on it with a grinder and again with a wire brush. My thoughts were to go over it with Osfo then coat the mounting surface with a few coats of epoxy, then I planed to use 3M 5200 for the bedding.<br />Does this sound like a good plan? Has anyone been through this before, or have any suggestions?<br /><br />TIA, Dee

 

[flashback]

Re: Cast Iron keel replacement

Hello Dee, I am not familiar with that particular boat, but I know in many cases, the cast iron keels leave a little to be desired in the shape of the keel. In other words, the foil shape...In most cases, folks will template the keel using 3 or 4 templates made from plywood. you build up the keel with epoxy filler, then sand down to fit the templates.... time consuming but it's the only way I know of to get an efficient shape to the keel.......as far as using 5200, keep in mind that you will not be able to remove the keel again if you glue it on with 5200...good luck

 

[BillP]

Re: Cast Iron keel replacement

I don't know about the sailmaster keel but have owned a few bolt on iron keels. Get them down to bare metal and use cold tar epoxy. That the standard fix for coating them. Any epoxy will do but the "cold tar" builds thick and stays on. <br /><br />Just priming with red lead and painting will work on iron keels too. All you do is touch it up during the annual haul out.<br /><br />I used regular polysulfide caulk when bolting on a 3500lb cast iron keel on a wood hull. On a fiberglass hull I'd probably use 5200 and not worry about it.

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: Cast Iron keel replacement

I would like to add to this. I have been in and around the metal stripping, blasting, restoring business, and you might want to have the keel blasted and coated with POR 15. POR 15 is impervious to everything. I believe it was originally developed for the US Navy, to protect steel against the corrosive effects of the ocean, so it sounds great for your application.

 

[flashback]

Re: Cast Iron keel replacement

Dee, both these folks have some good points...soulwinner and Billp have done this..... the cold tar and por15 are the same thing, they are a high build filler that adheres to the metal,,, the key is the metal has to be clean..and when it is clean, it does not need to be exposed to the elements, what this means is that it needs to be coated ASAP....you will never make the keel maintainance free, but you will be better off than you are if you just paint it....

 

[flashback]

Re: Cast Iron keel replacement

and I would like to add that the bolts on a iron keel many times are corroded so badly that they are way too small to hold the keel on, in which case .. you will need to bore the keel and replace the bolts.....it depends on if they are Monel or just steel...........

 

[BillP]

Re: Cast Iron keel replacement

Yep, that POR stuff is the same I'm talking about. Cast iron keels aren't that bad to maintain if you treat the spots every year or two.<br /><br />On the keel bolts and lessons learned...they can and often do "waste" away at the joint where the keel and hull meet. Water through leakage or osmosis is the conductor and makes electrolysis at that joint worse than at the ends. The nut and head can look perfect and the bolt be 50% wasted...no matter what the material. Keel bolts MUST be pulled to know the real condition.