Lead Keel delaminating

[JonnieFlamingo]

Afternoon all, I spent a happy few hours last weekend removing a couple of keel bolts from my 1930 28' Gaff Cutter. I say happy because they are bronze and look to be in remarkably good condition.



Unfortunately, whilst grovelling about under Flamingo, I noticed a piece of the keel is coming away.


The flappy bit in the attached image bends like lead and the rest of the keel looks/feels like lead and I can't figure out what would make this happen. When I bent the flap back it just revealed more lead... anyone got any ideas? I wondered whether some weight had been added at some point in the past and not bonded properly, or whether the keel is actually some other material encapsulated in lead.
Jonnie

 

[sailorman]

flaking might be the keel poured in more that 1 session

 

[JonnieFlamingo]

Yes I wondered that, but as it's such a thin layer I wasn't sure.

 

[graham]

First bit poured into a cold mould can harden too quickly if the leads not poured in quick enough.

 

[TQA]

Epoxy + filler and some screws to hold it together while it sets.

 

[vyv_cox]

First bit poured into a cold mould can harden too quickly if the leads not poured in quick enough.

This casting defect is known as a 'cold shut'. The first layer of metal oxidises before the next is poured on top of it preventing adhesion.