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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Rusty swing keel

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jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/10/2006 : 11:31:18

Now that we're on the hard, I see that the swing keel has LOTS of rust. I intend to bottom pain the hull, but am seeking advice on treating the keel first. Is simply scraping and priming before painting adequate? Is there a different paint to use for the hull and for the keel?
Many thanks!

Jerry

Edited by - on

mcollard
1st Mate

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USA
38 Posts

Response Posted - 12/10/2006 : 13:27:20

Jerry, when I redid my swing keel last spring, I ground off most of the rust, applied a rust fixative, and then three or four coats of Interprotect 2000, which someone on this site had recommended for fresh water. If you sail in salt water I think a different product was more highly recommended. Over that, I used the same bottom paint as for the hull.

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 12/10/2006 : 13:28:28

For a 'proper' job.

Remove keel from the boat
Sandblast to clean iron
Replace keel pin if needed
Replace keel cable fitting if needed
Treat with below-water metal prep and paint
Fill and fair with epoxy-based fairing compound.. seal with several coats of epoxy
Paint with whatever bottom paint you're fond of
Reinstall and touch-up

If you do a good job, you'll be set for another 15 years or so. (Aside from 'regular maintenance' i.e. renewing the bottom paint and the keel cable ever 2 to 3 years).

You can just 'do what you can reach' with an angle grinder, treat with a rust fixative , seal with epoxy, paint etc... but be prepared for a huge orange mess as you start taking the rust off with a grinder. (don't ask how I know this)

Edited by - on

Chris Z
Captain

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452 Posts

Response Posted - 12/10/2006 : 19:59:38

I too am looking to remove my keel at the end of next season and would like some technical help on how to remove it safely and easily. Not sure, but that may have been a contridiction!!!

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jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 12/11/2006 : 07:47:58

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the insights.
Chris - There is a lengthy string and TONS of advice and commentary on replacing the keel pin, just search around. Also IMHO, research the procedure and understand the lore before renaiming Water Walker.
Best to all!

Edited by - on

Deric
Captain

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USA
408 Posts

Response Posted - 05/07/2008 : 12:29:16

Hello Folks,

I have read this thread and seek additional comments. I am looking to work on my swing keel. I have included several pictures so folks can assess.

A person at a local chandlery read the instructions from an Interlux Kit and said all I needed to do is to grind to bare metal and then coat the keel with a barrier coat. Employee at the store couldn't say with confidence that the barrier coat would stick to a rust fixative - - if I were to apply a fixative.

It appears that my keel has the blue ablative paint, red primer, over some type of epoxy, and underneath appears to be metal in good condition or poor condition.

I prefer not to remove the entire keel, but perhaps it is necessary for the work.

What say ye folks?
Looking for ideas and suggestions on how and what to use to proceed before I make a decision.

Blue antifouling paint, red primer, white epoxy - - I think, and metal underneath.

A great picture of rust spots. Nice!

What do you think, more sanding/stripping?

Medium shot of the keel

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 05/07/2008 : 13:41:45

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Chris Z
 ...would like some technical help on how to remove it safely and easily...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I was thinking that once upon a time somebody posted photos and details on lowering the keel using very long bolts, but I don't see it in the Tech Tips or forum archives. Am I losing it?? It seemed like a very sound, safe technique.

Edited by - on

Deric
Captain

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USA
408 Posts

Response Posted - 05/07/2008 : 13:56:57

I did some research and found more information. The address below has three good links in the thread.

http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=2382

I am thinking I shall patch the keel this month, treat the rust, and paint while it's on the boat; plan on doing a full blasting job of the keel after the sailing season. I can spend the rest of this sailing season working on the boat if I let it be so.

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 05/07/2008 : 14:01:25

Deric - your keel looks very much like mine did.
I stipped off the many layers of old paint using a stiff wire brush attachment on a power drill.
I filled a minor crack with marine-tex, then painted it with the same bottom paint I used on the rest of the boat.

this is my bottom after I've removed all the paint off the hull and most of the paint off the keel. I did not grind it all the way down to bare metal. My goal was to get it smooth.
this next photo shows what the painted keel looks like. I think it looks very nice. I used a hard paint, not an ablative.

I have been working on cleaning and polishing the topsides and doing paint re-touches this spring prior to launch. The keel is in good shape - two seasons after I painted it. However, there are some rust spots that have poked through - so I worked them over with a stiff wire brush then painted. And once again, I think it looks pretty good. One of these years I'm going to remove the keel and do major re-work of it which may include sandblasting and epoxy. Because I sail primarily on a lake, I don't believe it is a pressing issue.

Edited by - on

Frank Law
Navigator

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USA
159 Posts

Response Posted - 05/08/2008 : 12:08:05

Dave you are correct in recalling the 3/8 all thread rod with nuts to lower the swing keel. I think this was Leon's idea..I followed
his idea several years ago and replaced the pivot pin,pin housings and bolts..Basically you remove one screw at a time insert all thread
into same hole tighten up with nut. Repeat with 3 other bolts..then slowly back off nuts and keel slowly comes down.. NOTE you need a frame work to stabilize the keel as it lowers ..I used 2 x 4s and 2 x 6s with a jack underneath..You will have to lower the cable at the same time to keep it level..It is not a physically hard job just a little--- T E N S I O N...

Frank Law
About Time 3519
sw-sr-
Sassafras Rvr Chesapeake Bay

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 05/08/2008 : 12:33:44

Frank - did you do this while your boat was on a trailer?

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 05/08/2008 : 13:53:39

Frank - Do you have any pics of the frame you built to hold the keel. I take it you need 4 all-thread rods, how long?

Edited by - on

sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 05/08/2008 : 14:38:36

Bruce, don't forget the zinc plates. I learned this from all of you even for fresh water. I did all the things suggested and it really looked good but it started to rust again. Zinc was the answer as with the bi-metal effect a gas is formed and cracks the protective coating at the cast iron surface. Did I get that right?

The swing keel will always have to have inspections and maintenance but how much or how long does it last, good question. The cradle to support the keel when removed has to be very strong for it wants to flop. I was able to remove the keel by lifting the boat and then lowering one end of the keel with the cable and then the other with a floor jack the whole time being in the cradle. There are wheels on the cradle so it could be moved and worked on.

Edited by - on

Frank Law
Navigator

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USA
159 Posts

Response Posted - 05/10/2008 : 19:08:20

Sorry for not getting back with answers a bout all thread rod ..I believe I used 4 - 2' pieces. My boat was on jack stands about 3-3.5
ft. off the hard..No pictures available..Trying to recall I think there was a 2 x 6 laying flat on the bottom ,with 2 x 4 uprights
probably 20" tall with outside diagonal bracing..As the keel was lowering it just fit between the uprights.

keel
*
/! * !(
/ ! * ! (
/ ! * ! (
/ ! * ! (
------!-*-!------
2 x 6 !___! 2 x 6_
^
^
2 x 6 end view

drawing(?) supposed to show keel laying on 2 x 6 between 2 x 4 uprights with ouside diagonal bracing..

It was something like this

Frank Law
"About TIme" 3519
sw,sr

Edited by - on

Frank Law
Navigator

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USA
159 Posts

Response Posted - 05/10/2008 : 19:11:52

sorry folks my drawing came out worse than what I entered

Frank Law
"about Time" # 3519
sw,sr

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 05/10/2008 : 21:21:51

Borrow a fin keel trailer.

Edited by - Frank Hopper on 05/10/2008 21:23:37

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 05/12/2008 : 23:40:05

Thanks for the photo, Frank. This looks like what I'm going to need to do, once we get a trailer, to lower our keel to fix a leak in the trunk.

Edited by - on

Deric
Captain

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USA
408 Posts

Response Posted - 06/17/2008 : 11:29:51

Folks,
I had posted the look of my keel as it was in March 2008 in a few pictures above. Since that time, I have redone the keel.

Some epoxy, rust fixative, barrier coats, and Micron Extra paint a few coats. Looks better now.

I used the hoist at the marina to move the keel about. Before next season Ill drop the keel to replace the keel bolt and add spacers. I thought these pictures are relevant to this thread.

Deric

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 06/17/2008 : 13:33:04

looks great Deric.

My plan this fall: haul the boat late October, take it to the sling hoist, remove keel, put boat back on trailer sans keel, take keel home in back of truck and have a winter project in my garage. Re-install using sling hoist next spring.

My challenge now is to find a way to man-handle the keel. I'm on the look-out for an engine hoist or some kind of dolly.

Edited by - on

Deric
Captain

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USA
408 Posts

Response Posted - 06/17/2008 : 20:46:01

Mike,

Post your pictures of your keel on here sometime, to see a before and after shot.
I would be interested in how you plan to move a 1500lb keel about.

Keep us posted.

Deric

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