Fixing my damaged keel

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Fixing my damaged keel

Hello Scot..

Looks like bondo do me m8..

I dont recall seeing any MEKP for gel that comes in "blue/green" in my crossings..

Are you Sure that was Gel you spread around there ?...

If you did use the gel you posted..did you harden it with Cream hardener ?

YD.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Fixing my damaged keel

Yep, it has wax

Waxed Gel Coat: Superior quality isophthalic finish (non-laminating) gel coat that cures to a hard, resilient and glossy surface. Use this product to touch up worn or scratched gel coat. UV inhibitor is added to increase weathering stability.

Make sure you use the right amount of cat.

I'm just sayin...

 

[jonesg]

Re: Fixing my damaged keel

Are you aware gelcoat is an anaerobic resin?
It cures hard by being protected from the air, a sprayed cover coat of PVA will take care of that. PVA is easily washed off with water after the gel cures hard.

I've never heard of finish gelcoat.

 

[ScotWithOne_t]

Re: Fixing my damaged keel

Hello Scot..

Looks like bondo do me m8..

I dont recall seeing any MEKP for gel that comes in "blue/green" in my crossings..

Are you Sure that was Gel you spread around there ?...

If you did use the gel you posted..did you harden it with Cream hardener ?

YD.

I think you might be confusing posts. The greenish stuff IS body filler. THe gelcoat pic is a post or two above that one, and it is white. It did get harder after the second day, and I was able to sand while I was sanding the body filler. No more fingernail marks. I was only able to affect it with hard pressure form an orbital sander loaded with 60-grit.

Are you aware gelcoat is an anaerobic resin?
It cures hard by being protected from the air, a sprayed cover coat of PVA will take care of that. PVA is easily washed off with water after the gel cures hard.

I've never heard of finish gelcoat.

I really don't feel like trying to source some polyvinyl alchol spray in town (especially since the gelcaot I have is SUPPOSED to be "finish" gelcoat), but I've heard of people using hairspray as a substitute. Can anyone else confirm that this works?

 

[jonesg]

Re: Fixing my damaged keel

I've seen pva at the marine store, its not too rare in Minn I would think, what with all the boats. I've heard of using saran on small patches, just to close it off from the air.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Fixing my damaged keel

PVA should be considered Harmfull..

Wear a respo while spraying if you use this stuff..

Flush gun with water !!! then flush with acetone when all the PVA is out of your hoses or gun..

Cleaning PVA with acetone in your gun will turn to snot...just FYI

If you dont use PVA and the surfacing agent didnt work well with your top gelcoat .. just wipe off the surface with gloves and acetone .. more rags and acetone... wipe clean till not sticky anymore then guide coat and sand.

Its only the top surface of gel that will not cure .. under that should be cured gel. ( if this happens ).

YD.

 

[ScotWithOne_t]

Re: Fixing my damaged keel

PVA should be considered Harmfull..

Wear a respo while spraying if you use this stuff..

Flush gun with water !!! then flush with acetone when all the PVA is out of your hoses or gun..

Cleaning PVA with acetone in your gun will turn to snot...just FYI

If you dont use PVA and the surfacing agent didnt work well with your top gelcoat .. just wipe off the surface with gloves and acetone .. more rags and acetone... wipe clean till not sticky anymore then guide coat and sand.

Its only the top surface of gel that will not cure .. under that should be cured gel. ( if this happens ).



YD.

Good to know. Thanks!

 

[ScotWithOne_t]

Re: Fixing my damaged keel

Finished sanding the body filler on Firday.

Today I applied the gelcoat with a 2" foam brush.

It's Not pretty, but it will do the job, and nobody will ever see it on the bottom of the boat.

Also, the keel way up near the front had been worn away (most likely from beaching, or scraping on a trailer or something), so I scuffed that up with 60-grit and touched it up with gelcoat too.

Finally DONE.

Possibly doing a test drive tomorrow, so we'll see how it performs. I'm expecting zero leakage. I'm very glad to be done with this project. Fiberglass is messy, caustic, terrible stuff to work with, and I hope I never have to do it again. Maybe it would be different if it were a modification or restoration I was doing on my own volition, and not a repair that I HAD to do just to get back to where I was three weeks ago.

Thanks for all your help and advice, guys.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Fixing my damaged keel

Let us know if it's water tite


I'm just sayin...

 

[ScotWithOne_t]

Re: Fixing my damaged keel

Got it out on the water today. No problems.

There was a tiny TINY bit of water below the ski-locker when we got back... more like moisture. Not a drop came out when I pulled the plug. Not sure if it came from above (though I don't remember splashing water into the boat) or if it just seeped through some microscopic cracks in the hull. All of the damaged areas were sealed up with glass, resin and gelcoat, so unless there's a spot I missed, then I have no idea where it came from. At any rate, it's so little water that I'm not worried about it. We were slapping some wake-waves pretty hard at about 25mph, so I was thinking, "Here's a good test of my fiberglass strength."

Mechanically, she's sound as well. I was really worried that I FUBAR'd the outdrive/gears/clutches/etc. But everything worked smoothly. The Al prop sacrificed a little speed though. My SS prop got me up to 44-45, but the Al prop (same 21P) put me at around 40-42. (this is using the gauge, not a GPS) RPMS were a little higher too, which is odd. Maybe that's normal for AL vs SS props.

Now I can start worrying about the minor problems, like raising the seat so I can see over the windshield a little easier. :redface:

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Fixing my damaged keel

Hey SWOT Great to hear about your SPLASH! I hope your tiny leak stays that way. Keep us posted...

I'm just sayin...

 

[JAFO1]

Re: Fixing my damaged keel

Scot, how is she holding up?

 

[ScotWithOne_t]

Re: Fixing my damaged keel

Scot, how is she holding up?

Well, I haven't used it since last Saturday. It's been chilly and rainy here, plus i was out of town for work all week. Not sure how many time I'll even use it this year now. Seems like I got it fixed just in time to winterize it.

 

[JAFO1]

Re: Fixing my damaged keel

Well, I haven't used it since last Saturday. It's been chilly and rainy here, plus i was out of town for work all week. Not sure how many time I'll even use it this year now. Seems like I got it fixed just in time to winterize it.

I forget, not everyone can boat year 'round!
Keep us posted.