Removing rust from inside a stub keel.

[Rigger Mortice]

I've removed the swinging keel from my boat so that a new one can be made up. The swinging keel swings inside a stub keel.

Whilst it is out I may as well clean up the inside of the stub keel as much as possible. It's only about 20ish mm wide, 600mm high and about 1300mm long.
Ideally I would use something like a heavy duty bottle brush in an electric drill but, as far as I can see, no such thing is available.

I can't get a pressure wash inside the slot....it's too narrow.

Any ideas?

 

[William_H]

The slot

I imagine the slot is actually fibreglass with lots of rust stain from the keel. I would suggest to clean it and sand it smooth try a piece of foam rubber with wet and dry sand paper glued to both sides. If it is thick enough and it should be you will have to compress the sheets together to get them in the slot then work it up and down. Some string lanyards glues under the sand paper will help retrieve it. My hardware shop sell gardeners kneeling pads of foam that might be thick enough. If not glue more foam onto it.
You want it smooth so that the keel swings without friction but other wise it does not need to be too smooth. You might try a little anti fouling inside the slot near the outside edge. But basically you don't get much fouling with no light. good luck olewill

 

[penfold]

Assuming your stub keel is cast iron;

1. get some 10mm steel bar 2" longer than the slot is deep.
2. cut a slot in the end.
3. get some abrasive cloth strip and fit it in the slot.(screwfix flog this, other vendors are available)
4. fit it in a drill and go wild.

You will have to replace the abrasive quite often, dependent on the quality of the abrasive.

Wear a mask as cast iron and rust will turn everything including your lungs black.

 

[shaxi]

that seems a simple but helpful way ,thanks !

 

[Rigger Mortice]

Thanks guys.

William H.
It's just a great big lump of cast iron with a slot in it. No fibreglass.

Penfold.
Yes, I think that's the way to go. It will be a mucky job but all I can reasonably expect is to get rid of the bulk of the rubbish that's up there.
Good point about the dust; I hadn't thought about that.