Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete7
Scrape any old sealant out of the join. Sand smooth the worst of the rust. Apply rust killer and allow to dry. Fill gap with sealant and smooth with wet finger or wet paint brush.
Coat keel with 4-6 coats of Primocon International paint. Paint hull and keel with antifoul paint.
Go sailing and don't worry about something you can't see.
This is all we do each year, well occasionally a bit more of a sanding but the same idea.
Pete
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This is why bolt on keels get a bad rap, POOR MAINTENANCE!
You have all of the indications that this keel, and yours from the description, needs some additional investigation and possibly
repair. But instead you cover it up. I feel bad for the poor person that buys your boat. You have hidden a real potential problem and some poor uneducated, first time boater will buy the boat thinking its in good shape. Then the keel gets stressed by a grounding, sailing hard or a wave and the keel comes off. But that will just start the "bolt on keels are unsafe for offshore" rants again when all along it was poor
maintenance that caused the problem.
And the "[I just sail in] rivers always within a short distance to shore" attitude is equally irresponsible. What about the people that will put themselves at risk to come and save you when your keel falls off? Don't you have any respect for them?
I am not saying you have to have your boat in Bristol condition, god knows mine isn't. But there are certain
safety related
maintenance items that are just plain irresponsible to ignore. Covering them up is more then irresponsible, it should be criminally negligent.