Serious Bilge Cracks

[neilpride]

You can use some kind of drill roto flex , is kinda something for grind and open cracks , nice for reaching tight spots , around corners etc... striper for gelcoat i dont recommend , many stripers soft polyester resins, when you have the cracks deep open and the surface around free of gelcoat, pour some thin epoxy in the cracks , fill the cracks with thick epoxy mixed with silica and glass the top , finish with epoxy primer or whatever you like it....

[davidkinzie]

....ps could this rust colored weeping be tainted from the cracked bilge leaking into the lead ballast ( apparently as agreed lead does not rust though ) or is it a polyester resin reaction to moisture in the laminate?

[Tortuga's Lie]

To be on the safe side, take a strong magnet and see if it is attracted to your keel..........you never know how accurate some of those old manuals are!!!

[neilpride]

Originally Posted by davidkinzie

....ps could this rust colored weeping be tainted from the cracked bilge leaking into the lead ballast ( apparently as agreed lead does not rust though ) or is it a polyester resin reaction to moisture in the laminate?

Make a pilot hole,, lead is easy to drill, iron tough, or grind deeper and see by yourself .. Smell the spots, smell like vinegar?