Repairing a Lead Keel

[Slipperman]

OK so the boatyard took a chunk out of my lead keel today whilst moving the boat. What is the best material for filling a deep groove in solid lead about 3 inches long by half an inch deep and half an inch wide?

 

[JumbleDuck]

OK so the boatyard took a chunk out of my lead keel today whilst moving the boat. What is the best material for filling a deep groove in solid lead about 3 inches long by half an inch deep and half an inch wide?

Lead?

 

[sailorman]

Hempel epoxy underwater filler

 

[Mrnotming]

Hi Slipperman,
Unfortunate, but is it possible, using a straight edge to see if any lead is now proud either side of the groove? if so it might be possible to dress off with a peening hammer to restore some shape.Or has the cut material simply fallen to the ground?A good epoxy filler mixed with lead shot might make a good repair?
To make lead shot one melts the scraps over a pot of water, if controlled well, lead shot will result, sort of pear shaped.Usual precautions, suitable mask, heavy overalls, away from any other inflammmables.A ladle (steel)of lead scraps heated over a small gas burner will serve well to direct the stream of liquid lead into a pot of cold water.
Or you could simply fill the lot with epoxy, fair off and forget?

 

[Hadenough]

Lead and a ball pein hammer.

 

[Niander]

How did they managed to do that?

 

[jwilson]

OK so the boatyard took a chunk out of my lead keel today whilst moving the boat. What is the best material for filling a deep groove in solid lead about 3 inches long by half an inch deep and half an inch wide?

I'd expect a commercial boatyard to repair it - it can be done very nicely, often just by reshaping the original lead unless some has actually been lost. If the "boatyard" is a club-run operation as some are though, you may have to do it.

 

[chrishscorp]

If the torn lead is still attached to the keel it will be possible to dress it back in to the gouge, if it has been torn off then epoxy filler may be the easiest method, ideally it will want an undercut to it or possibly even a mechanical fix into the body of lead to help keep it in there. To permanently put the lead back in there and only lead would require oxy acetylene welding gear and i would suggest it is not worth the effort or RISK.

We do quite a lot of roofing and i have previously done lead welding.

Any work on old lead will require gloves and a mask, make sure hands are thoroughly washed before food or drink, same for new lead but more importantly old lead due to oxidisation.

 

[Slipperman]

Unfortunately the vast majority of the lead was lost - only a small slither remaining. The accident happened when the boat was being moved and the outside edge of the starboard bilge keel apparently swung against the cradle axle when passing over uneven ground. Looks like some form of epoxy filler required - any brand names?

 

[sailorman]

Unfortunately the vast majority of the lead was lost - only a small slither remaining. The accident happened when the boat was being moved and the outside edge of the starboard bilge keel apparently swung against the cradle axle when passing over uneven ground. Looks like some form of epoxy filler required - any brand names?

see #3

 

[Fantasie 19]

...why aren't the yard offering to fix it given it was their error???

 

[Bobc]

Not sure I'd bother

 

[Slipperman]

Thanks - the Hempel stuff looks good. The yard are being suitably cooperative, I just wanted to know what the options are.