Treating rust on iron keel

[Graham376]

Has anyone tried Hammerite Kurust? Just cleaning off keel and found a few surface pitting holes which need treating. Not been able to find Fertan here so far.

 

[Seajet]

I've had a lift keel boat with an ( originally galvanised but that scrapes off ) mild steel plate for 41 years now - in fact on my second keel now as I didn't know how to maintain the first one on high trestles, left the boat with the plate inaccessible in winter.

I've tried every steel treatment going; don't even think about modern Hammerite, about as useful as milk !

By far and away the best stuff I've ever tried is Dulux Metalshield.

I know ' Dulux ' sounds like a joke but this is serious stuff; one part, but requires the Metalshield primer - best on bare metal as it can pickle other paint.

Available from places like Brewers.

It's streets ahead of anything else I've tried - inc Fertan, and the other steel treatment jobs - the only thing which has the keel look much the same on winter lift out as the day she's hoisted in.

 

[mlegge]

If you go to Brewers or similar Metalshield is just one product.

As with everything in life preparation is everything...

I found Primocon and especially modern Hammerite about as much use as thinned toothpaste.

Metalshield is your answer, I temped in a chandlery and tried all the stuff going inc Blakes Steel Treatment, the car ' rust resolving ' stuff and Galvafroid, have had my boat 40+ years now; when I and my Spitfire / Harrier engineer dad saw the results at end of season with Metalshield as the boat was hoisted we both exclaimed " Wow ! " :encouragement:

Interesting... I'd really appreciate it if you could elaborate on the whole procedure - is it: Blast / grind / sand back to bare metal, apply metalshield primer ( several coats?), apply metalshield (several coats?) and then - light sanding to key it up and then apply antifouling? Can imperfections in the keel be faired with epoxy filler after priming? After final application?

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

I have tried just about every steel treatment going over 40 years having an originally galvanised mild steel lift keel plate, am on my second keel as I didn't know how to look after the first one, for a start like any lift keel boat by having the boat on high trestles to allow access to the plate.

The treatment which stands head and shoulders above the rest is

Dulux Metalshield

I know ' Dulux ' sounds like a joke but this is seriously good stuff, the keel looks almost as good on autumn lift out as when she is launched.

It's one part paint but requires the special Metalshield primer.

Best applied on bare metal as it can pickle other paint.

Available from places like Brewers - no connection apart from happy keel owner.

Nothing wrong with Dulux. I project-managed the painting of a fleet of six sailing school dayboats with Dulux Trade Exterior Gloss in 2013 and they're still in good condition.