Coating a lead keel

[DanTribe]

After years of patching up, I've decided to strip my lead keel back to bare metal.
About 80% has come off easily but there are some areas of white filler, probably P38, still firmly attached.
Whats the best way to re-coat from here? I'm minded to use a 2 pot epoxy paint, then fill & fair with micro balloons.
Any suggestions please?

 

[William_H]

lead keel

As no one else has responded. I have some exposed lead on my keel (an additional shoe) and I coated it with i think polyester resin with in my case a thin layer of fibreglass. No problems as lead is fairly inert ie does not corrode.
I repaired it a few times over the years mainly from damage hitting rocks etc.
You should have no problems doing as you propose. don't worry about getting rid of the last of the filler and yes epoxy will be best. good luck olewill

 

[Quandary]

Had to recoat one side of my keel last year after abrasion to the bulb caused by contact with the stone bank pitching at my berth when the water level fell to much. I scraped off everything loose then coated twice with West Epoxy (just because I had it) second coat immediately the first started to go off, then filled with the same stuff and microbubbles. Faired off, coated with Primocon and antifouled. It looks ok but will need another season or two to prove its worth.
(Worth using a primer unless you can put the first coat of antifouling on the epoxy while it is still 'green')

 

[DanTribe]

Thanks to William H and Quandrary for your advice.
Painting lead keels is obviously something that rarely gets done in UK.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

Reason is that once painted, it doesnt come off like it does with iron unless you hit something.

Mine is coated with epoxy and then coppercoat.