Fairing Compund?

[csharp]

Could anyone please reccommend a good fairing coumpound for the seam on my keel of my '84 catalina 30. The seam is tight, but some of the old fairing is chippin off (4"x6"piece).Thanks

[Delfin]

Originally Posted by csharp

Could anyone please reccommend a good fairing coumpound for the seam on my keel of my '84 catalina 30. The seam is tight, but some of the old fairing is chippin off (4"x6"piece).Thanks

If you want quick dry, easy sand use 3M vinylester fairing compound, painted with epoxy. Marine Premium Filler :3M US

Were it me, I would use epoxy and West system microlight 410 filler. West System 410 Microlight Filler

[oceannavigator]

3 things you should always have on hand:

1) Epoxy
2) Phenolic Microballoons
3) Colloidal Silica

You can do literally anything with these three ingredients and fairing is one of them.

About a 50%/50% mix of epoxy and microballoons (by volume, take it slow adding them), then add colloidal silica until it doesn't drip off the surface you are fairing.

[SV Windrush II]

Originally Posted by oceannavigator

3 things you should always have on hand:

1) Epoxy
2) Phenolic Microballoons
3) Colloidal Silica

You can do literally anything with these three ingredients and fairing is one of them.

About a 50%/50% mix of epoxy and microballoons (by volume, take it slow adding them), then add colloidal silica until it doesn't drip off the surface you are fairing.

Yes I concur, and you can even tint it with coloring if needed

[Terra Nova]

Yup. WEST system epoxy, microballoons and colloidal silica, for fairing--lightweight, easy to sand, low strength.

Pickup some microfibers to use with CS for glue joints and for a strong foundation for the fairing compound, where some thickness needs to be built up. But it's much tougher to sand. Same with high density filler.

[roverhi]

Bolted on keels flex at the keel to boat junction. A hard compound like epoxy/polyester resin will crack over time. Best to used a flexible material like 5200 or the West System flexible epoxy if you want it to last.

[oceannavigator]

Originally Posted by roverhi

Bolted on keels flex at the keel to boat junction. A hard compound like epoxy/polyester resin will crack over time. Best to used a flexible material like 5200 or the West System flexible epoxy if you want it to last.

roverhi is right.

You had asked for a fairing compound and in my mind I assumed a chunk of fairing fell off the side of the keel not that theb*bedding* compound was gone.

You definitely need the flexible 5200 type stuff for the keel/hull join. You definitely need the 3 ingredients I mentioned to fair.

Two different things.

[minaret]

I often fiberglass over keel/hull joints to prevent cracking long term and seal it up.