would the rust on these bilge keels be worth trying to treat before we launch?

[Marceline]

Hi everyone - just wanted to ask

The boat we've recently bought has some rust spots on its bilge keels and we were wondering if these would be ok to launch the boat for the remaining couple of months of the season and fix them when we take it out in Oct, or if this would be best to grind the rust spots away and treat (either standard antifoul or some new coppercoat?)

If grinding the rust what kind of grinder would be best (we've a dremel, but would it need to be more heavy duty) ?

 

[vyv_cox]

Looks like Coppercoat? If so the required treatment is somewhat more complex, will take a day or more. Will do no harm to slap on a bit of conventional a/f but not really needed for a couple of months afloat.

 

[johnalison]

Yeah. Go sailing and wait to do a proper job when you have the time.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

I agree with Vyv Cox and John Alison.
I found, over the years that wire brushes, grinders, Dremels etc appeared to remove the rust, but it always reappeared by the end of the season. Last year I discovered that I was able to hire a tool called a Needle Blaster, which removed the rust very well. I followed up with my usual treatment of rust converter, Hammerite Special Metals Primer, Vinygard ( or Primocon), followed by my usual A/F.
At the end of last season there was negligible rust.

 

[Tranona]

Patching Coppercoat on iron keels is hit and miss. It is difficult to get the iron clean enough in small patches for the epoxy to really adhere properly, plus you may well find that once you start grinding the coating peels off and you end up with a larger area than you first thought. That looks like the coating has been on for some time and you may have to consider recoating in the not too distant future. The only way to do it on iron keels is to blast and start again with epoxy and then Coppercoat. I did this recently on a single iron keel using Hempadur and Coppercoat. Took toughly 2 weeks in similar weather to now (June 2020) and cost around £500 for professional blasting and first coat of epoxy then DIY.

I think in your situation patching with Primocon or Vinyguard and conventional AF and see now it goes. Will look messy but only the fish see it!

 

[Marceline]

Many thanks everyone - that's very helpful and welcome advice thanks

Think we'll try launching and focus on a couple of other much smaller jobs (and if get time put on some patches of AF to add some protection), then look to work on it next year when it starts to get warmer before relaunching.

The Coppercoat was treated in 2015 Tranona, so it is starting to get towards the '10 years' so we'll hopefully try and get it patched next year to hopefully keep it going

PS - the Needlegun hire suggestion looks a good one Spirit

 

[vyv_cox]

I patched my Coppercoat keel with a kit. Angle grinder on the iron seemed to a decent job.

 

[Refueler]

I know its a technicality .... but many people think Iron / Steel should be ground back to 'shiny' as base for priming / painting. On fact that is not correct.
The spec is actually A 2 1/2... which is dull grey......

Just commenting.

As regards OP's rust .... go sailing ... later after lifting - get a grinder ... then choose budget job : Primer / AF or go Coppercoat repair.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

Many thanks everyone - that's very helpful and welcome advice thanks

Think we'll try launching and focus on a couple of other much smaller jobs (and if get time put on some patches of AF to add some protection), then look to work on it next year when it starts to get warmer before relaunching.

The Coppercoat was treated in 2015 Tranona, so it is starting to get towards the '10 years' so we'll hopefully try and get it patched next year to hopefully keep it going

PS - the Needlegun hire suggestion looks a good one Spirit

Hired from HSS Tool Hire. (No Connection etc.)

 

[Marceline]

cheers so much - all very helpful thanks

 

[vyv_cox]

Hired from HSS Tool Hire. (No Connection etc.)

Needleguns are superb on steel, next best to grit blasting. Not so good on cast iron, which is somewhat porous and has graphite inclusions. Easy to drive rust into the metal.

 

[coveman]

I had a similar problem and decided to do a repair in the spring before launching, though if I had to do it now I would leave it till this winter.
Similarly, the coppercoat had blistered on the keel ( approx 8 years after application). By contrast the hull is fine. I was lucky as a friend has a professional blasting kit and took it back to the metal for me for very little cost. I then purchased a "repair" kit from Coppercoat.

They recommended and supplied a small can of Hempel High Protect 2 which is a two part Epoxy Primer and has to be applied in four /five coats wet on wet, and the coppercoat ( again 5 coats wet on wet) They are very helpful if you give them a call. So, not a quick job if you want to go sailing but worth doing next time the boat is laid up.
If you have access to a blasting kit that is the way to go in my opinion, but if not, I was recommended this bit of kit by a boat builder which he said did a good job Tercoo®

From memory the kit from Coppercoat was around £100, blasting cost me £60 and the rest was DIY - so a few measuring pots and brushes. I only needed to do part of my keel ( trailer -sailer) so depending on the size of your keel you may need more than one kit to complete the job, but as I said, Coppercoat are very helpful if you give them a call. - Contact Us Leisure – Coppercoat Antifoul

 

[Marceline]

cheers Vyv and Coveman - very handy to know

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

Needleguns are superb on steel, next best to grit blasting. Not so good on cast iron, which is somewhat porous and has graphite inclusions. Easy to drive rust into the metal.

I surmised that that might be the case, but I did get vastly better results on observation of one season's immersion. Time will tell.