Keel Repair Product Advice

[jwl019]

I need a little help deciding what I need to order to fix my problem with my keel, I bought this boat and removed a really worn down Keel guard to find this. I need to know specific products and quantities so I can get them on order really soon.

Let me start off by saying that I have read soooo many threads on this issue, that now I am so confused, I don't even know if I really want to even try this. I have never attempted anything like this kind of repair before, and really don't fully understand what all the posts are truely talking about. The skint up section is about 3" wide by 5' long.

The methods that I am considering are:
1) Marine Tex and then applying a Keel guard/Keel Shield (I am hoping the 14 oz. would be enough?)
2) Some type of filler (X), and then some gel coat for my year Malibu boat, then debate on Keel guard if my job does not turn out to pretty. Not sure how much, what brands/items would be involved in this. I have seen to many recommendations in other posts but can't really relate to how much I need.

Also, I realize that this is going to happen again, due to roller location on my trailer, so I am thinking about extending the bunks forward some and cutting out the roller. Will this work or does there need to be some kind up support under the front? The roller is only about 2' in front of my two center bunks, so I could just extend them by like a foot I would think and just remove the roller completely. If this is possible, then I would not want to put a Keel guard on the boat since I do not like beaching it.

Attached are my pics:

Or, just incase I did not do it right, here they are:
http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z330/jwl019/Keel Pics/

I know this type question has be beat to death, but I am almost ignorant on the subject, and I do know that reading all this is no match for "Field Experience".

Thanks

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

Unless the Keel Roller has broken or is totally worn out, it would not cause that to occur. Typically that kind of keel damage occurs from "Beaching". Keel Guard take care of that issue but You can "Pretty it Up a bit" by purchasing some Gelcoat and rolling/brushing it on. And then a little sanding and polishing. It will probably not be a perfect color match but being on the bottom won't be noticeable. You could then put another Keel Guard on it and be good to go.

 

[jwl019]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

Unless the Keel Roller has broken or is totally worn out, it would not cause that to occur. Typically that kind of keel damage occurs from "Beaching". Keel Guard take care of that issue but You can "Pretty it Up a bit" by purchasing some Gelcoat and rolling/brushing it on. And then a little sanding and polishing. It will probably not be a perfect color match but being on the bottom won't be noticeable. You could then put another Keel Guard on it and be good to go.

Thanks Woodonglass, are you saying just buy some gelcoat, not really a filler? I am guess the size around $35 may not be enough, so probably the $80 size should do it? It was caused by beaching but I have read where you can't put a keel guard over a roller and it work right? So I was thinking of removing it if need be, prefer not to if I don't need to.

Thanks again!

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

I am not a fan of the keel gaurds. To many things in my mine could be affected by one being installed on your boat.

Anyway, the area in question almost looks like it was sanded down. Sand/beaching will cause this to happen. But who ever was beaching that boat either did it ALOT or someone had sanded it down in prep of putting the keel gaurd on. Either way, I would use a filler for underwater inviroments and fair everything out. You will want to rough up/ sand the surrounding area with some sandpaper. Then just roll and tip your gel coating onto that area and blend it in by wet sanding after cured. You will want atleast three coats of gel.

It also would not hurt to beef up the keel a little with extra fiberglass before gelcoating, but not necessary.

What kind of boat and what year? It almost looks like the hull was painted.

 

[jwl019]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

Boat is a 2001 Malibu Sunsetter LXI, I don't think it was painted (not sure though). Just think previous owner beached it a lot.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

Not sure what you mean by the $35 or $80 dollar size. You need to approximate your sq. ft area and then apply that to the coverage. Basically a Qt of Gel coat should be plenty. Make sure to sand with 60-80 grit and then wipe it all down with acetone prior to applying the gelcoat. Used Unwaxed gel coat and take care with your mixing ratios of hardener and thinner. Don't get it to thin and apply liberally. Apply the second coat just as soon as the first coat sets up. Two to Three coats should do it. You want it to be the approximate thickness of a Penney. When the last coat is just starting to set you should spray on some PVA so it will cure properly. I'm by no means a Gelcoat expert, just telling you what I have learned here on the forum and from research. Hopefully OOPS or some of the other more experienced Gelcoaters will stop by and confirm my observations.

This is some very basic info on Gelcoat
http://www.evercoat.com/imgs/pis/gelcoat.pdf

 

[jwl019]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

Thanks,$80 is referencing the Spectrum gelcoat that matches my boat. So I have acetone on hand which I got to remove the sticky from the keel guard I removed. I need gelcoat, hardener, and some pva, mixing tools/sticks, sand paper and block, and anything else? Brush or spatula tool to apply?

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

Look up roll and tip on youtube. There are alot of videos on there that show exactly how to apply the gelcoat. Its good to watch someone do it if you haven't done it before.

 

[jwl019]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

Thanks Chriscraft254, looks easier than the method I was thinking of using (spatula, squeegee, and a lot of sanding). Any ideas on type of roller? Can I get away with cheap brushes from Lowe's? I am sure will be going thru a bunch of them! I would guess about a 3-4" wide roller should do to fair out far enough since it is only 1.5" on each side of keep at the widest parts.

 

[oops!]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

wow.....what nice pretty shiny smooth keel damage !

smooth like a babys bottom !

you do have a roller issue as well btw.

welcome to iboats......

my friends above are correct...

a keel guard will help with constant beaching......but because you dont like to beach....why add one ?
lets just fix the gellcoat and be done with it !

i would add a layer of csm to to the area as well....this is because we have no idea how much glass was worn off by the beaching.

you will want to grind or sand the gellcoat off the hull till all the black disappears and you are at glass.

then add one or two layers of csm. if you go two layers....make sure the last layer is wider than the first.
but only glass over glass.....dont add a new layer of glass over the gellcoat edges.
(you might want to add a few drops of white pigment into the glass resin.)

after the glass is cured...you will want to sand that smooth.....then clean with acetone.

follow the steps woodie has posted above.

you can brush on the gellcoat....or roll it on...no difference......there will be deep brush strokes, or deep roller impressions.
so when the last layer is starting to set up.....take a bondo spreader, and do a quick swipe over the area...., adding more gell.

this quick swipe....will fill most of the dimples left by the roller or brush.

then spray your pva or just let cure.

now its time to sand...

start with 320 grit,,,,and sand smooth....get most of the large peaks and ridges out.
the go to 400 and gradually progress to 1500 dry.
at 600 it should be totally smooth....
when you hit 800 and above, you are just basically polishing the gellcoat.

after 1500....then polish with a gellcoat polishing compound.

i know it sounds like alot,, but that repair can be done in just a few hours including cure time.
i fix keels like that all the time.

as far as your roller....you will need to adjust it down just a weeeee smidge....
see all the black marks on the gellcoat?....and the dark black mark on the roller? this is too much weight on the roller.

you may also want to consider a non marking yellow roller for your trailer.

other than that....the guys have you in the right direction

cheers
oops

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

Wow, that looks like some good and frequent beaching occurred with this boat . . .

Definitely need to build up some material on that before you gelcoat.

as a side comment, we need to make sure add this to the check list for prospective boat buyers . . . "where there is a keel guard, there is keel damage".

 

[jwl019]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

Thanks again everybody for the advice. I am going to try the gelcoat route with some csm first, then I guess if I can't get it I will try the Marine tex as a back up.

I actually think the roller on the trailer is a yellow non marking roller (just can't tell in pic). I cannot get spin the roller because the boat is Definetly sitting on it, but there is not any kind of adjustment on it, so I guess I will just drill the hole bigger and hopefully that will drop it enough, bunks don't have adjustments either. I could look for some solid sawn lumber which would raise it 1/2", since it would be 2" thick instead of 1-1/2" thick (2x6).

I also agree about the keel guard on the boat checklist, maybe not all the time was for beaching, but if one is on the boat they thought they needed it for something!

Now to get products on order and wait for some 70 degree dry days.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

I would be interested in seeing a pic of your boat and how it sits on the trailer. I would be trying to fix the trailer issue (if there is one) first. Then do the repairs. I see it is a welded trailer with no adjustments. It may need thicker bunks. Show us a pic of the boat and trailer from farther away so we can get the whole picture.

FWIW, allot of people install keel gaurds to hide damge. The rest of the hull is pretty scraped up on the bottom also, so it was probably just someone that spent a lot of time partying at the beach.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

Boat is a 2001 Malibu Sunsetter LXI, I don't think it was painted (not sure though). Just think previous owner beached it a lot.

You are correct sir.

I actually think the roller on the trailer is a yellow non marking roller (just can't tell in pic).

Again..you are correct..

All of those colors you see in the pic are in the Build of the boat..not the roller.

I am going to assume that the trailer was made for the boat and not some off brand trailer.

I would float the boat and make sure its on the trailer Correctly..then prep and install another keel guard.

You are correct about rollers under keel guards. You dont want that. Roller to hull only. If you have some scuffs in your gel that are under the rollers ( or aft of your keel guard ) I would leave them alone until you Need to buy gelcoat for some other damage. There is nothing wrong here.

Its like taking your kid that skinned his knee falling off his bike. You can take him to a hospital to have plastic surgery or a skin graft operation .. or you can just spend a few bucks on a Band-Aid.

Up to you ..

I know how Ski Boaters think .. You dont buy a Malibu for the fishing .. Beach..switch..run..beach..switch..run .. 5x a day. Of course your going to get a skinned keel !! LOL .

Keel guard it .. DONE.

IMO YD.

 

[jwl019]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

Yacht Dr., you are correct, the trailer was made by Dorsey for Malibu boats. It does still have some damage after the roller for about a foot but it is only rubbed down to the black layer. I was thinking about selling it and upgrading at some point this season, so I would like it to look somewhat nice. So gelcoat may be the best way then so I don't buy to big of a keel guard and pass under the roller? I know the keel is a one of the places to look when buying one, but I don't want the person who buys it to find out like I did by removing a worn down keel guard.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

Yacht Dr., you are correct, the trailer was made by Dorsey for Malibu boats. It does still have some damage after the roller for about a foot but it is only rubbed down to the black layer. I was thinking about selling it and upgrading at some point this season, so I would like it to look somewhat nice. So gelcoat may be the best way then so I don't buy to big of a keel guard and pass under the roller? I know the keel is a one of the places to look when buying one, but I don't want the person who buys it to find out like I did by removing a worn down keel guard.

You can buy a long keelguard and cut it wherever you want ( just before the roller for example ). You dont have to install the whole length .. you have extra to cut off.

Now..In your case.. you have a Sweet boat. You again have two options here. .. well 3 actually ..

1. Prep and apply keelguard only ( and let the rest of the bottom look like you beached it many times over taking skiers or wakers or tubers on and off the beach ).

2. Try to Gelcoat it to make you feel better about the bottom of your boat ( only fish will see this ).

3. Repair the damaged Gel.

However .. #3 is not always your best bet if you dont have a pro doing it.

If you cover the 'damage' or 'repair' with some non-pro work gel or paint .. it may end up costing you more then you think in the long run.

Its called 'blanket' repairs. .. dont worry.. you dont have that damage on the keel of your boat.

Keep it the same..do not grind and glass..do not hide with gel/paint. Keel guard it and be done until you sell it.

YD.

 

[jwl019]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

Thanks, that certainly sounds like the easiest thing to do, especially if nothing is going to be hurt. After reading all the threads, I was worried about structural damage and fiberglass soaking up water causing blister and stuff.

Thanks again.

 

[jwl019]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

Chriscraft254, sorry for the long delay, I spent all day yesterday washing the bottom getting all the scum off (for lack of a better term). Will try to get a better pic of how it sits on the trailer for you tonight. I am checking on finding some actual 2x6first cypress which will add 1/2" rise from the treated 2x6 that are on there now. I tried spinning the roller yesterday and noticed that it will not spin due to weight of the boat resting on it.

My thoughts, fix gel coat, buy a back up keel guard for just in case I don't do a very good looking job (probably only a 5'one at the most, and replace/recarpet new bunks. Prefer not to install the keel guard, but want on just in case (may look for a bargain on ebay, but previous owner left a brand new 6'grey on in boat).

Thanks

 

[jwl019]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice



This pic you can see the 22 center supports that start about 3'the from back and run up towards the front, and you can see the roller. I forgot I had these on my phone.

 

[jwl019]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice



This shows the 2 rear bunks that are on the outside of the 2 center ones. These are 6' long, and center ones are 9' long.