Cost to repair chunk out of keel?

[superbenk]

I have a ~3" chunk of gelcoat and a layer or so of fiberglass out of my keel right aft of where the bow drops down and the keel starts to run straight. It's due to the boat bouncing too hard on the front roller of my trailer before I ever got it. It was originally a crack that turned into a bigger hole (not through the hull, but down to the fiberglass strands). I've tried to patch it a few times, but my fiberglass skills are poor and it looks terrible & doesn't last.

I'm thinking of taking the boat to someplace and having the hull fixed by a professional. I'm wondering what I should expect to be charged. There's some scratching/gouging on either side of the keel around this spot I'd like to have repaired as well (gelcoat) and all my attempts at patching will have to be removed.

I'm also wondering if there's any reason I can't use an auto body shop to do the repair rather than a marina/boat service shop? Where I'm at there aren't many marine shops. I'm thinking fiberglass is fiberglass and anyone capable of working with it should be fine fixing this.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Cost to repair chunk out of keel?

Here is a pic of where the damage is. I had it "fixed" with Marine Tex in this picture, but the Marine Tex eventually just crumbled and came out after a few loadings:

I slapped some fiberglass on there, but that recently broke out as well. Slapped some more on but didn't have enough hardener and was in a hurry so it looks horrible. I just want this fixed.

 

[sheboyganjohn]

Re: Cost to repair chunk out of keel?

Are you actually using glass or are you using a can of resin called fiberglass. On here somewhere is a post on how to repair holes. Basically you need to place layers of glass in starting with the smallest piece building up to the largest piece.

I am sure a car shop can do the work as long as they know they are doing something more structural then a hood.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Cost to repair chunk out of keel?

I did use glass mat in layers but it never went on as neatly as the videos & instructionals made it look. It's also really hard to get it to work well upside down. I did learn that I should be using a brush rather than a plastic blade to get it flat.

I assume you also get what you pay for when it comes to epoxy resins, etc.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Cost to repair chunk out of keel?

Keels are a challenge due to their constant abuse. If you want to attempt this again, i think we could help you with the correct techniques to give you a chance at reasonable success. If you want some "How To" instructions shoot me a PM and I'll be glad to explain further.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Cost to repair chunk out of keel?

Keels are a challenge due to their constant abuse. If you want to attempt this again, i think we could help you with the correct techniques to give you a chance at reasonable success. If you want some "How To" instructions shoot me a PM and I'll be glad to explain further.

I hope I dont get banned for this .. but why PM a "How To" .. I mean we want to Share our experience for other Iboaters right ?..

Superbenk .. you could try alternate methods for laying up Overhead lams ..

One would be to layup the lams on some paper and put them on as ONE .. then roll them out.

I would suggest .. and its just me here speaking .. that you dont treat an overhead lam the same way that you treat a vertical lam.. or a horizontal lam .. or a Flat lam.

They are All different when the application method is used.

Dont get me wrong here .. you can lam one by one overhead .. but it seems a bit ... .. Messy .. and un needed.

I would use the wetted out lams ( multiple lams ) on a piece of paper and put that up there than putting a brush and resin over your head ( yes I have done this many times ).

YD.

 

[sheboyganjohn]

Re: Cost to repair chunk out of keel?

Yacht Dr. are you referring to wax paper with everything already wetted out? If so that sounds like it would be much easier, especially since you could leave the wax paper on and smooth everything out with-out dragging the mat around.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Cost to repair chunk out of keel?

You never did give us a clear description of the way you previously prepped your boat for the repair, the resin, mat, cloth you used etc. As with all repairs proper prep and technique plays a big role role in the overall success of the repair. When doing a vertical or semi upside down repair depending on the depth of the gouge will depend on the methods used. I've described who I do it on other threads and have some drawings illustrating the technique as well. If you search the forum on keel repair you'll probably run onto them. I'll do the same and post em here if I find em. Here's some pics and a description of how I did mine last summer..

http://forums.iboats.com/boat-resto...lly-started-w-pics-384982-55.html#post3890599

Final results...

A year later and several launches and loadings and she's still holding up.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Cost to repair chunk out of keel?

Yacht Dr. are you referring to wax paper with everything already wetted out? If so that sounds like it would be much easier, especially since you could leave the wax paper on and smooth everything out with-out dragging the mat around.

Yup that is correct .. just what I was suggesting. After you wet out your glass ( last lam first and first lam to substrate last ) you can cut the paper about 1" around your lam. Then handle it Up there ..

After its Up there.. you would remove the paper then roll out as you normally would.

Good luck

YD.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Cost to repair chunk out of keel?

You never did give us a clear description of the way you previously prepped your boat for the repair, the resin, mat, cloth you used etc.

I used a Bondo fiberglass repair kit I bought at the local auto repair store. It comes with epoxy resin & some fiberglass mat (the kind where there's a bunch of random long strands of glass every which way). My first attempt was to follow the method you describe where you feather the edge to a taper & build up larger & larger epoxy-soaked layers. I found it incredibly difficult to get the layers to lay nicely because they constantly wanted to stick to my fingers more than the boat hull so it got messy. The epoxy mix I came up with looked a lot stiffer than the mixes I've seen in the Youtube videos.

The last repair I did was really quick because we were going out the next morning & it was already after sun-down. I threw some strands into the resin & tore some rough layers and tried to get it all to lay flat. It ended up becoming a wad of sticky glass strands and really made a mess. At this point it all needs to be sanded/ground down and redone.

I really like the idea of using the wax paper as a foundation for supporting the patch. I actually used some wax paper over night to try and help my last train wreck set up somewhat cleanly & it did work somewhat. I may attempt to do this myself after vacation and see what I can do, though just having it done by a pro & not having to worry about it would be even better.

 

[DeepBlue2010]

Re: Cost to repair chunk out of keel?

The type of fiberglass you are describing (CSM – Chopped Strand Mat) is not for use with Epoxy resin. Unlike Polyester resin, Epoxy has no Styrene which is the component that – among other things - dissolves the binding material that holds all of these random strands together. Are you sure what you used was Epoxy? Did you have to mix two parts with ratios like 1:1 or you added hardener measured by drops? If it is the later, you used polyester resin not epoxy. The reason I am bringing this up is, it will make a difference when you reach the finishing decision. If you used Epoxy, you cannot use Gelcoat as a finish.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Cost to repair chunk out of keel?

Ah, then it was polyester. I thought it was epoxy because of having to mix in the hardener.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Cost to repair chunk out of keel?

Nope If it was Bondo it was Poly. Both Poly and Epoxy use hardener. You can use Wax paper or plastic as I described. Either will work and a lot better than what you tried. Cut All the piece first a lay the biggest piece down first and the smallest last then wet em all out at once. Carry it as one piece to the boat and place it by hand. Just make sure the area is clean and wiped down with acetone first.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Cost to repair chunk out of keel?

You should also resin coat the surface that your going to put your lams on before you slap it up there.

OH yea .. I sure hope your using some gloves ! ( latex or something like it )

I prefer the Powdered so you can take them off and put a new pair on fast when sweating.

If the glove(s) get too sticky when handling the glass just replace them with new ones.

YD.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Cost to repair chunk out of keel?

You should also resin coat the surface that your going to put your lams on before you slap it up there.

OH yea .. I sure hope your using some gloves ! ( latex or something like it )

I prefer the Powdered so you can take them off and put a new pair on fast when sweating.

If the glove(s) get too sticky when handling the glass just replace them with new ones.

YD.

Oh yes! I use the blue nitrile ones that don't tear constantly.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Cost to repair chunk out of keel?

I hate those gloves LOL .. the Mechs use them all the time.

I use a good latex ( 10 bucks a box/100 ) personally.

I can put my hands into my acetone filled ' soak bucket ' and they dont leak at all.

The nitrile are a good glove .. it just does not Conform to my hands well. Loose fingertips and tight around the hand itself are what nitrile gives me. .. But I have large hands .

I rarely tear my latex. I love them. Nitrile are just too tight and sloppy.

Each his own I guess.

YD.

PS. Basically you might have used the cheap crap latex gloves .. use the good ones and you will like them