MORE REFIT QUESTIONS

[alisdair4]

I have just lifted Freya ready for winter storage, and note that in a couple of places, the steel of the keel is showing through the paint/antifouling. The boat has been coated with Gelshield at some time in the past.

Grateful for advice. Should I chip all of the paint off and re-coat the keel. If so, what should I coat it with before antifouling.

Alisdair

<hr width=100% size=1>"so long as all you want is a penguin’s egg"

 

[tugboat]

If you don't have any general rust problems I would just do a touch-up job. Remove all traces of rust and put on something like VC Tar or Primocon 3. I have had good results from both. In the spring apply A/F primer before the A/F itself.

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[jerryat]

Hi Alisdair!

I agree with tugboat, gringing back locally and coating should be quite sufficient. May I also add an alternative to his suggestions? I have used International's Interprotect on my keel for some years now with excellent results. It is also directly compatible with Gelshield. Providing the preparation you do doesn't result in too burnished a finish, a couple of coats will give very good protection for around three to four years in my experience.

A light sanding to provide a 'key' before applying the anti-fouling in the Spring, should be all that it required.

Cheers

Jerry

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[alisdair4]

To both,

Thanks for that - unfortunately, when I pressure washed the bottom of the hull this morning, the gel-shield failry flew off the keel ! Result - a nice rusty steel keel which will need fairing-in before painting. Does your advice still apply given the job has just got bigger? And should I put the Interprotect (or whatever) on first, then fair the keel. Or vice versa?
Alisdair

<hr width=100% size=1>"so long as all you want is a penguin’s egg"

 

[jerryat]

Hi Alisdair,

It sounds as if the best solution would be to grit blast the keel back to bare metal. The recommended procedure is then to prime (interprotect would be ideal) immediately with one coat. When dry, use a two-pack waterproof epoxy filler (e.g. Watertite) to make good any imperfections, before applying up to three more coats.

If grit blasting is not convenient/too expensive, use an angle grinder to remove the old anti-fouling/primer, making sure you get right back to bare metal. Then carry on as above. Grit blasting does produce a much better surface (well pitted ) for the expoxy to adhere to, but I use an angle grinder and have only had to do it twice in fifteen years.

Hope this helps

Cheers
Jerry

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[alisdair4]

Jerry,

The good news is that the keel is back to bare metal - the pressure washer did this for me. Got the other points though - thanks!

Alisdair

<hr width=100% size=1>"so long as all you want is a penguin’s egg"