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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Rusty Keel

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waterbaby
Navigator

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USA
168 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/11/2012 : 18:19:18

After getting the boat hauled this weekend we found that the keel was rusting pretty badly - kinda surprised us because it looked fine last August. Anyway - I was searching through the archives and found lots of discussion on this but one thread in particular caught my eye because it talked about a method of dropping the keel. Unfortunately it didn't really give the details. Does anyone know how this was done? I do NOT want to get into this project too deep this season. I'm going to try just grinding it down, spraying it with the best rustolium I can find and some anti fouling. And a hope and a prayer. However since I'm building my 'next time' list I'd like to know what my options are.

****Are you familiar with the 3/8" all-thread method of lowering the head of the keel for servicing? (I had an image of this on another server, but I couldn't get to it just now. I can e-mail it if anyone would like, it's about 500KB.) Using this method would allow you access to the forward portion of the trunk for cleaning and painting, etc. Maybe even repairs if you have very thin flexible wrists, and can see around corners.

I hope some of you find some of this helpful.

-- Leon Sisson

1986 TR/SK #5250 Sunshine

Edited by - on

Sam001
Vice Commodore

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USA
441 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2012 : 18:41:29

Karen, you should change your footnote since it is no longer "No Name'
Sam

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2012 : 19:12:25

For the "quick and dirty" solution, I'll suggest a "rust reformer", like the one made by Rustoleum, before any paint. It is a sort of milky coating that stabilizes ferrous metal (turning the surface black) to prevent further rust, and is meant to be painted over. Apply it to bare metal wherever the paint flakes off a rusty surface. It makes sense to grind off any deep, serious rust before applying it, but you don't need to have uniformly bright metal--it's meant to go on thin surface rust.

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2012 : 19:42:29

Having a lead keel I am mostly ignorant about this - what is it that makes a quick fix better than the real deal? Are you trying to get out of grinding, or is budget an issue? Are you paying for yard space?

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CateP
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USA
108 Posts

Response Posted - 03/12/2012 : 06:22:46

I battled the rusty keel syndrome for years. Even went so far as to apply some carcinogenic substance that claimed to transform the rust into a "new metal". Bottom line, the iron keel is going to rust and it shouldn't make a big difference in performance if it gets a little pitted and bumpy. I gave up trying to make the keel on my 1983 look flawless and am much happier because of it.

Instead, each spring, I scrape off the loose rust with 1" metal scraper just to get the bigger flakes off. No grinding,no sanding, no sweat. Then I apply a couple of coats of blue Rustoleum and call it good. If I bottom paint that year, I apply the bottom paint over the Rustoleum after waiting a couple of days.

These iron keels are a big hunk of metal that aren't going to disintegrate over our life time. They are in the water most of the time and the only time we see the ugly rust is when the boat is hauled out. While the swing keels require maintenance and inspection, I wouldn't spend too much time trying to eliminate or "treat" the rust.

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 03/12/2012 : 07:00:20

I think Cate has it exactly right... except maybe for the barnacles growing on her naked Rustoleum.

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pfduffy
Captain

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USA
317 Posts

Response Posted - 03/12/2012 : 07:17:25

Last spring, I used a grinder to smooth the worst of the rust on the keel - 15 minutes - maximum. I then slathered on a thin coat of bottom paint and put the boat right into the water - same day as soon as the paint was dry. My keel came out looking as good as it ever did when the boat was hauled in the fall. Of course, sitting in the yard all winter, the rust has returned. I expect to do something similar this year. I agree with Cate - not worth spending a lot of time or effort on this.

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waterbaby
Navigator

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USA
168 Posts

Response Posted - 03/12/2012 : 10:04:32

Thanks for your comments. I was thinking just to scrape it a little and put some rustolium on it then another coat of bottom paint. Mostly this is because IT'S SAILING SEASON!!!! Whoop! And I don't want a little rust to get between me and that. I would like to at least consider some options for next year though and was wondering about Leon's 3/8" method of lowering the keel. I guess no one here knows about it though...

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 03/12/2012 : 10:13:26

I did a modest sanding and Rustoleum blue rust binding paint on my previous boat that still looked fine 3 -4 years later when I sold her. Pearl got the expensive smoothing and barrier coat that has done well. Preparing, filling and barrier coating is a big, time consuming job and I think the basic approach is fine.

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 03/12/2012 : 10:36:17

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfect_is_the_enemy_of_good

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 03/12/2012 : 11:00:24

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by OJ
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfect_is_the_enemy_of_good<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I've witnessed how perfection can be the enemy of all action. In the quest to create a plan for a process that leads to a perfect result, if perfection is indeed impossible, then the plan itself (which needs to be perfect) will never be concluded. (...also referred to as "paralysis by analysis.")

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JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Response Posted - 03/12/2012 : 11:42:12

Karen,
Here are a few threads to get you started on your research into lowering the keel:
http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=3188&SearchTerms=lower,swing,keel,3/8,bolt

http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=14249&SearchTerms=lower,swing,keel,3/8,bolt

http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=10031&SearchTerms=lower,swing,keel,3/8,bolt

http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=5718&SearchTerms=lower,swing,keel,3/8,bolt

http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=5397&SearchTerms=lower,swing,keel,3/8,bolt

http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=4973&SearchTerms=lower,swing,keel,3/8,bolt

http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=3544&SearchTerms=lower,swing,keel,3/8,bolt

Hope this helps!

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CateP
Navigator

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USA
108 Posts

Response Posted - 03/12/2012 : 13:53:55

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stinkpotter
 I think Cate has it exactly right... except maybe for the barnacles growing on her naked Rustoleum.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Ahh yes. Well I did add cayenne pepper to my paint mixture and absolutely NO barnacles. Boat is moving to fresh water for second life. (probably longer life)

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 03/12/2012 : 14:27:37

One thing I'll add regarding lowering the keel. If you do, and if you remove the keel pin hangers to inspect and/or replace the keel pivot pin, please be sure to replace the four hanger bolts with new ones from CD and use Locktite. I also strongly recommend using a torque wrench to tighten the bolts and find out from Catalina or someone on this forum what setting to put on the torque wrench. You do not want to overtighten and risk stripping the threads. fixing that would be a nightmare.

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waterbaby
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USA
168 Posts

Response Posted - 03/12/2012 : 18:14:12

Jim, thanks so much for the links - about the time the light bulb went off for me with a Ah ha, hubby also saw the light and said 'Hell No'! I'll have to work on him a little to soften him up.

Cate - how much Cayenne? I'm getting ready to put a new layer of bottom paint on and I'm game for anything that will help me enjoy my summer.

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CateP
Navigator

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USA
108 Posts

Response Posted - 03/12/2012 : 18:34:50

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by waterbaby
 J Cate - how much Cayenne? I'm getting ready to put a new layer of bottom paint on and I'm game for anything that will help me enjoy my summer.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Just dump in a whole bottle. McCormick's is fine. It won't change your paint color.

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