What should I patch keel rash with?

[prater]

Pictured below is the keel rash on the bottom of my boat.

This boat is 40 years old and not worth much investment, I spent $400 on it and have no intention of keeping it very long, just want to get a few seasons of fishing out of it.

This keel wear has been there for a few years, probably a lot longer than I can imagine. It is smooth and no strands of glass are exposed, just the gelcoat is rubbed off.

I want to repair it cheaply just to keep it sealed enough that I don't have to think about it, appearance is not an issue.

My plan is to use Marine Tex however I have one concern.

Since part of the worn area rests on the keel roller I'm worried about the Marine Tex cracking under the weight of the boat in contact with the keel roller. I know marine tex is pretty hard.

Is this a good idea or would another epoxy or paste be a better choice?

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: What should I patch keel rash with?

Just leave it alone. Unless you do a good job of prep work anything you try and stuff in those very small spaces is just gonna fall out anyway. It doesn't need to be "sealed"

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: What should I patch keel rash with?

Yup to this^^^ but...If it's buggin ya, get a gelcoat repair kit for 30 bucks mix some up to try and match the color as close as you can and brush some over the glass to make it look a bit better and provide a bit more protection. If you clean it well and wash down with acetone prior to application, it will adhere quite well and should not chip out with the keel roller. Again, it's totally cosmetic and up to you if you do it or not.

 

[pauloman]

Re: What should I patch keel rash with?

bing/google wet dry 700 kelvar reinforced epoxy putty - about $50 including shipping for a 1 quart kit

 

[73Chrysler105]

Re: What should I patch keel rash with?

You can also get a keel guard for it but that is probably more money than you want to spend. Iboats sells them.

 

[prater]

Re: What should I patch keel rash with?

Just leave it alone. Unless you do a good job of prep work anything you try and stuff in those very small spaces is just gonna fall out anyway. It doesn't need to be "sealed"

This won't absorb water?

 

[fishrdan]

Re: What should I patch keel rash with?

Exposed fiberglass like that will absorb moisture to a small degree, wicked through the glass fibers. It's a judgement call on your part to seal it up or leave it exposed, I'd probably seal it though. A couple coats of epoxy would do the trick.

I wouldn't try to build it up as this would require a lot of prep, feathering out into good gelcoat, build up and outward, finish newly glassed area... (If you try to build up "just" on top of that little flat spot, it's going to bust off easily with the keel roller riding on it...)

Be aware that epoxy is UV sensitive and will yellow over time, but since your boat is yellow to begin with........

 

[prater]

Re: What should I patch keel rash with?

What type of epoxy would you recommend?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: What should I patch keel rash with?

I quote You "It is smooth and no strands of glass are exposed, just the gelcoat is rubbed off. " Smooth Polyester Resin/Glass is Highly Water Resistant. It's only when the glass fibers are exposed that there's an issue with water penetration. It would take Years for any water to penetrate through it elsewise. You can, as stated Leave it alone and it will be fine or if you want to cosmetically make it more pleasing to the eye gelcoat it with the possibility that it could come off or paint it with the same possibility. Gelcoating might not be the best bet but as I said if it's buggin you cosmetically it's an alternative to consider. You would have to properly prep it for gelcoating. Epoxy will not only turn yellow from UV it will also FAIL from UV and I personally would not recommend using it unless you protect it with paint. If you're gunna paint, you don't need the epoxy IMHO. Just paint what you got. Now we're back where we started...

 

[fishrdan]

Re: What should I patch keel rash with?

The picture shows exposed glass fibers. Even if it's smooth there are still exposed glass fibers.

I do agree about UV degrading epoxy, but think it's a non-issue as the OP said he's only keeping the boat a couple of years. (And, the area being epoxied won't get direct UV exposure, just some reflected UV.)

In all reality, the OP could leave the beach rash alone and not suffer and dire consequences... It's really up to him, $5-10 for 30 minute epoxy, $25 for a gelcoat patch kit, $5 for a pint of enamel paint, $Free leaving it alone.

 

[prater]

Re: What should I patch keel rash with?

The picture shows exposed glass fibers. Even if it's smooth there are still exposed glass fibers.

I do agree about UV degrading epoxy, but think it's a non-issue as the OP said he's only keeping the boat a couple of years. (And, the area being epoxied won't get direct UV exposure, just some reflected UV.)

In all reality, the OP could leave the beach rash alone and not suffer and dire consequences... It's really up to him, $5-10 for 30 minute epoxy, $25 for a gelcoat patch kit, $5 for a pint of enamel paint, $Free leaving it alone.

Its on the bottom of the boat so it won't get much direct UV.

I'll probably gut and junk this boat within the next five years or so. My long term plan is to install the motor and anything else that is salvageable on an old aluminum or pontoon boat when I can afford it.

I just need it to get me to my fishing spots until that time comes.

So anyway, I want to cover this with something just for some piece of mind.

Would Marine Tex work? Or something like Evercoat?

Or

Would bottom paint suffice?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: What should I patch keel rash with?

If you want just cosmetics and some waterproofing you can use good old Rustoleum Pro Oil based paint. You can get some of the small 1/2 pints of Yellow, Brown, and White and play around mixing it and prolly get pretty close to that gold color on your boat. Use a foam brush to apply 2-3 coats and you'll make your 5 year window real easy.