First question for FAQ - What sealant to re-bed my keels?

[misterg]

No, I really do want the answer!

I need to re-bed the keels on Pippin this winter - water pumped out of the keel/hull joint when giving the keels a good waggle while the boat was on the hoist at lift-out.

I've searched the forums, and although I haven't found a clear recommendation, 3M's 5200 crops up in discussion (polyurethane?). I've removed a few of the keel bolts, and the existing sealant (around the bolts, at least) is some sort of poly-sulphide.

The boat is a 22' bilge keeler, and I intend to do one side at a time by chocking the keel up, slackening the bolts and rocking the hull onto the other keel with supports at bow & stern. As soon as I've got room to work, I intend to clean off whatever is there, slap some goop on, and lower the hull back onto the keel.

Question is: "What goop ?"

(Keels are cast iron with a flange on top that fits into a recess moulded into the hull, and are fastened on with stainless steel bolts).

Andy

 

[Talbot]

PBO did an article on this recently.

I suspect I would be using Wurth adhesive sealant.

 

[misterg]

Do you recall how long ago? I can't find anything in the "features" index of the PBO site.

What is the "Wurth" sealant?

Ta.

Andy

 

[Boathook]

Arbosil do a non setting sealant (Arbosil 1096) that is used for bedding in windows, joints on water tanks etc. Sticks like s##t and seems to do the job. About £7 for a large tube

 

[Talbot]

http://marinedirectory.ybw.com/reprints/results_related.jsp?tem=ybw&id=49609

Wurth adhesive sealant is easier to work than sikkaflex but not quite as strong (may be a good thing if you ever want to be able to re-do the keel) It also remains useable in the tube for much longer than Sikkaflex

 

[misterg]

Thanks! (I'd only gone back to the beginning of this year, and the article doesn't show up if you just use "keel" as a keyword).

Having dug the issue out, it just quotes "Sikaflex". More worryingly, it took them 20 minutes hammering wedges into the hull/keel joint to get it to part /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Is this the Wurth adhesive sealer you are referring to ? (small .pdf file)

Thanks.

Andy

 

[Talbot]

[ QUOTE ]
Is this the Wurth adhesive sealer you are referring to ? (small .pdf file)

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes!