Keel Fairing

[Banshi]

"Watertight" is a product from Interlux that is designed for exactly this use and it goes on after your first barrier coat. It's a 2 part 1/1 "bondo" type filler that's sands fairly easily. I did find I had to wait overnight for it to fully cure first.

[sailingfool]

Originally Posted by KeelHaulin

......... Don't sand off all the paint that is still on the keel; it is more difficult to get the new paint to stick to the lead than the old paint. Scrub the areas of the lead where it is exposed with scotchbrite and immediately apply some barrier coat paint (or epoxy)....

Interlux has a special primer for prepping lead. Grind the entire keel to a bright metal finish, apply Viny-Lux Primewash per instructions at
yachtpaint.com - the official site of International and Interlux paints then cover with Interprotect 2000E barrier coat.

[halekai36]

Originally Posted by BarryL

Hello,
What material do I use for filler? This is not structural, just for shaping. Is automotive bondo ok? If not, what sort of inexpensive low density stuff do I use? After the keep is smooth, I will apply a barrier coat.

Barry

NO Bondo is not OK it will absorb moisture if used bellow the waterline. If your putting a barrier coat over it theres a good possibility it may be fine but I would NOT skimp here if your going to the huge expense of this project.

Use either an epoxy such as West System, System Three or MAS and the appropriate fairing filler (I like the System Three stuff personally) or a Vinylester blister repair filler such as the product that 3M makes called 3M Marine Premium Filler.

I've physically had to remove and repair a number of bad under water patch jobs where Bondo was used and it's NOT fun..

Do it right and use the right products..

[Freesail99]

I've physically had to remove and repair a number of bad under water patch jobs where Bondo was used!!

Bondo can be very hard stuff and a real pain to remove.

[halekai36]

Originally Posted by Freesail99

Bondo can be very hard stuff and a real pain to remove.

Hence the "and it's NOT fun.." sentiment...!

[sailingdog]

BTW, Bondo does make a marine product for this purpose... personally, I wouldn't use it... but that's up to you.

[artbyjody]

Keep in mind as well that bondo will usually flake and pop off if you ever have significant strain on the keel, and will seperate...it has drastically different properties than using marine expoxies. In the automotive repair business - bondo as general rule is not used for that purpose and not usually endorsed by an insurance company for any repair....(although some shops will use it as a shortcut but those are shops you would want to stay away from to begin with....for filling a small scratch or something you could get away with it - but I certainly would not trust it at the location your repair is....

[KeelHaulin]

You guys crack me up... IIRC "Bondo" is vinylester that has some fillers in it that makes it more workable/shapeable. If you added chopped glass to it it would probably be equivalent to the strand-mat layers of your hull as most hulls are vinylester resin. I still prefer the epoxy with fillers; easy to mix/use and has better adhesion properties.

You can avoid lots of prep work (and lead dust exposure) by not removing the existing paint from the keel; that was why I mentioned not sanding off all the existing paint.

[halekai36]

Originally Posted by KeelHaulin

You guys crack me up... IIRC "Bondo" is vinylester that has some fillers in it that makes it more workable/shapeable.

Bad advice runs rampant on this board. Many people shoot from the hip and make BS claims that can lead to expensive repair bills for others in the future! Be VERY careful what you read on these forums like the statement quoted above!!

Originally Posted by KeelHaulin

You guys crack me up... IIRC "Bondo" is vinylester that has some fillers in it that makes it more workable/shapeable.

Keel,

Really? Can you give us a link to a Bondo that is Vinylester then?

Don't bother trying you will wear out your fingers before you find one because Bondo DOES NOT make any vinylester fillers!

The ONLY product made actually falls under the corporate umbrella of the Bondo division of 3M. That product is a new VE product that is sold under the Laminex brand and is part number #16074 Laminex Marine Premium VE Filler. Note the VE, or Vinylester, in the NAME!! This product is new and basically a re-branded 3M Marine Premium Filler. The basic rule of thumb in the marine world is this: If it does not specifically say Vinlyester it most likely isn't.


3M owns Bondo, 3M sells Vinylester faring compounds for LOTS of money, because they are EXPENSIVE compared to polyester, do you think they would under cut them selves and sell a pint of VE, under the Bondo brand, for $6.14 when they sell a pint of VE, 3M filler, for over $22.00 per pint?? Vinylester is MUCH more expensive than polyester so I'd love to find a cheaper source!!!

Please research your claims, or be more careful, (maybe you confused polyester and vinylester) before you post so that others may actually benefit in the long run from your advice. It's the polite thing to do..

Jamestown Distributors Bondo Page:

BRAND:	Bondo
Resin Type:	fillers
Material:	Polyester
Rate Of Cure:	30 Mins
Number Of Parts:	Two Part

[sailingdog]

From what a friend, who worked for 3M told me... Regular Bondo consists of polyester resin, with titanium dioxide, glass microballoons, talc and colloidial silica for fillers. Talc and microballoons can absorb water, which makes them less than useful for underwater applications.