Glass repair on Leisure 22 keel

[jbraud]

Hi everyone,
The back of my keel on a leisure 22 has split during transport. I'm looking for a bit of advice on doing a fibreglass repair.

The join easily pinches together and from my little understand of the makeup of the keel, it's just a case of sealing it up as it's non structural.

I've bought a 5kg repair kit and I'm prepared to give it a go.

I'm wondering at this point how far either side of the join to grind back to fibre and once done, what's an economic way of treating/coating it ready for primer/antifouling.

Any ideas or other considerations very welcome!

Thanks.

 

[VicS]

You will find everything you need to know in the instruction manual. product guides and videos on the West System website.

WEST SYSTEM Epoxy - Marine Grade Resins & Hardeners

There's a lot of info to look through, read and digest but by the time the weather is right you should be pretty clued up on how to go about it

 

[peteK]

As far as I am aware the Leisure 22 has a cast iron keel as with the other Leisures it looks as if someone in the past has fibreglassed over the cast iron.It looks as if the water has got in and caused the rust to expand thus splitting the fibreglass.

 

[jbraud]

As far as I am aware the Leisure 22 has a cast iron keel as with the other Leisures it looks as if someone in the past has fibreglassed over the cast iron.It looks as if the water has got in and caused the rust to expand thus splitting the fibreglass.

I thought the same but there's a lot of glass over the top of it if that's the case as most/all of it is glass save for the bottom aft corner which is a bit rusty.

So my thoughts are it's rods going down to an iron weight and is glassed into shape?

 

[Seashoreman]

Have you asked on the Leisure Owners Association site? There are some very knowledgeable people on their and I believe original builders?
I have a L23sl bilge and it certainly has iron keels.

 

[jbraud]

Have you asked on the Leisure Owners Association site? There are some very knowledgeable people on their and I believe original builders?
I have a L23sl bilge and it certainly has iron keels.

I have yes and nothing as of yet so thought I'd put it out to a wider audience.

 

[Seashoreman]

They have a Facebook presence if you do that. Might be quicker response?

 

[peteK]

The cast iron keel are just painted I would remove the glass fibre completely and clean up the metal,the keel is just bolted to the hull.

 

[eilerts]

To answer you question, I would grind no more than 10cm. You will need to get som clamps and glue the split parts together before glassing. Before doing that you need to clean up the surface for the glue, i.e. sanding. Round the edge and use light weaved cloth.
Looks like someone got fed up with the rusty keel and glassed over. This works well regarding not seeing the rust, but need to be completely water tight to prevent rust. Hard to verify from the photo, but it does not look very water tight at top, where it meets the hull. Removing the whole thing will probably give you a many hour with rust grinding, fairing and priming. Just closing the gap and glassing over, with preserve this nice work for a later occasion, and you can start sailing season right away.