Lead Keel Repair

[Jsol]

Hello all,

Hoping I can get some advice. I have a couple of very small gouges (size of a pencil eraser) and I'm looking for the best way to repair.
I have read the previous posts regarding removing surface oxidation on the lead and sanding in unthickened epoxy. The problem is that these gouges are so small, that I can't really get in there to do this without making the gouge significantly larger.
So the question is, do I just fill these gouges or do I make the problem worse by opening up the gouge?
Thanks in advance for any help with this.....

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Jsol

Hello all,

Hoping I can get some advice. I have a couple of very small gouges (size of a pencil eraser) and I'm looking for the best way to repair.
I have read the previous posts regarding removing surface oxidation on the lead and sanding in unthickened epoxy. The problem is that these gouges are so small, that I can't really get in there to do this without making the gouge significantly larger.
So the question is, do I just fill these gouges or do I make the problem worse by opening up the gouge?
Thanks in advance for any help with this.....

Its Lead..... beat em even with a bludi hammer...

[svHyLyte]

Originally Posted by Jsol

Hello all,

Hoping I can get some advice. I have a couple of very small gouges (size of a pencil eraser) and I'm looking for the best way to repair.
I have read the previous posts regarding removing surface oxidation on the lead and sanding in unthickened epoxy. The problem is that these gouges are so small, that I can't really get in there to do this without making the gouge significantly larger.
So the question is, do I just fill these gouges or do I make the problem worse by opening up the gouge?
Thanks in advance for any help with this.....

Clean them out with a rough ink eraser as well as possible and then fill them with gray Marine-Tex, mixed up and injected with a small plastic syringe sold at West Marine or another store dealing in epoxy supplies. Level the fill by laying a piece of wax paper over the spot and rolling over it with a rubber wall-paper roller. It takes longer to describe than to actually do.

[GordMay]

See also ➥ Keel Damage - WEST SYSTEM by ATL Composites

[Jsol]

Originally Posted by GordMay

See also ➥ Keel Damage - WEST SYSTEM by ATL Composites

Thanks Gord. I am familiar with the standard method of repair, but in my case I'm hoping to avoid opening up the ding any more than need be. I was thinking maybe an Xacto knife tip to scrape the resin into the lead?
The damage occurred when the boat was being blocked last fall. The keel brace nicked the keel when they pulling it from under the boat.