Beneteau First 211 keel bracket replacement

[PatrickB02]

I thought that fellow First 211 owners might be interested in a few pics from my recent keel pivot replacement.

The stainless steel pivot pin and the various nylon parts were in fairly good condition, but the mild steel keel pivot brackets were very corroded…

This is what the new brackets look like (but with anode added), so you can see the difference…

By way of background, my First 211 is a year 2000 boat, which I bought in 2005. It is used in salt water, and was wintered ashore for the first six or seven years of its life, but more recently has over wintered afloat. I’m pretty sure that this is the first time the keel has been serviced.

No more wobbly keel for me

 

[Seajet]

PatrickB02,

I reckon you have done a great service to any B211 owners reading this, that is horrifying - not just corroded but worn very oval too !

Is there an owners' association you can tell about this ?

 

[PatrickB02]

Hi Andy,

Yes, I have already posted it on the First 211 Yahoo group.

Another guy had previously posted something very similar (on the Yahoo group), so it is kind of a known weakness. Not surprising really, a stainless steel pin into a mild steel bracket in a salt water environment..!

 

[Seajet]

I know it's probably horrifying, but did you get a quote for stainless brackets just in case it's a go-er ? ( ! )

 

[PatrickB02]

No, I didn't get a quote for stainless, but that's the way I would go next time.

 

[Seajet]

In case it's of any use, the one paint I have found far, far better than any other on my galvanised keel plate is Dulux Metalshield; it's one part but requires its' own one part primer; over the years I've tried every steel treatment going inc epoxy etc, and this relatively new Dulux stuff is in a different league, like new after a season scraping up and down in the keelcase...may be worth slapping some on !

 

[mrming]

I currently have the swing keel out of our 1989 First 235. It has the same design as the 211 and the mild steel brackets are in good shape with just a little surface rust. I think we're going to have them blasted and galvanised before we put it all back together.

It's strange that this is happening to the 211 but not the much older 235. Wonder if Beneteau skimped on rustproofing the brackets?

 

[PatrickB02]

Wonder if Beneteau skimped on rustproofing the brackets?

Could be. Certainly the replacement brackets that I got from Beneteau were completely untreated. You can see on the last of my pics above where half of the bracket has been painted but the other half is just bare metal.

 

[mrming]

Looking at our brackets again, one of them was a bit bent so I decided to get some new ones while we have the keel out.

Called a UK Beneteau spares agent and was quoted £115 inc VAT and delivery (the brackets are €42 each ex VAT).

One of my crew got them made at a local fabricator for £10 for the pair!

Am going to give Seajet's Dulux Metalshield a shot for the rustproofing.

 

[Seajet]

mrming,

a very wise choice !

Just to reiterate, Metalshield is one pack, but requires the special Metalshield one-pack primer too.

The topcoat is silver in colour BTW.

 

[mrming]

Thanks - will make sure I pick up the primer aswell. I'll be antifouling over the top so silver is fine. If we can see that part of the boat we're in trouble in any case!