Keelguard installation .. should I proceed?

[Amar Nanduri]

Hi. I was planning to install the key guard and went below the boat and saw this. Do I need to do any repair work before I proceed with the keelguard installation ? Thanks

Best
Amar.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Yes, repair the areas with open fiberglass. A coat of gel coat or epoxy to seal it up will be best. Don't worry about aesthetics as you'll be covering it up.

 

[4x15mph]

Absolutely, you need to fix that first.

 

[Amar Nanduri]

Where do I get the fiberglass repair? Does lowes or Home Depot sell it ? Or autozone ?

Thanks
Amar

 

[Amar Nanduri]

The keel guard will cover up this area. Is it still necessary to patch up the fiberglass before I apply the keelguard ?

 

[Murf'n'surf]

The keel guard will cover up this area. Is it still necessary to patch up the fiberglass before I apply the keelguard ?

Yes. Water will be absorbed into the fiberglass unless you seal it.

 

[Amar Nanduri]

Yes. Water will be absorbed into the fiberglass unless you seal it.

Pardon my ignorance. Isn't the keelguard waterproof ? Nonetheless I will repair the fiberglass before I apply the keelguard.

Thanks
Amar.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Pardon my ignorance. Isn't the keelguard waterproof ? Nonetheless I will repair the fiberglass before I apply the keelguard.

Thanks
Amar.

Not the bond between the rubber and hull. Water can and will penetrate through the glue layer over time.

 

[Amar Nanduri]

Not the bond between the rubber and hull. Water can and will penetrate through the glue layer over time.

Thank you so much for the info. Do I need to take it to a dealer to get it repAired? Or is it someth No I can do on my own ?

Best
Amar

 

[MrMoose]

@Amar Nanduri, @Murf'n'surf is correct in that you want to fix the damage prior to installing the keel guard. You can get two-part marine epoxy from Home Depot or similar stores. It's tough as nails and will be difficult to sand and smooth out (harder than the gelcoat so be careful not to sand through the gelcoat while smoothing out the epoxy), so keep this in mind when you're applying it. If I were you, I'd give the surface a good cleaning and a final rinse with isopropyl alcohol so that it is clean and dry before you apply the marine epoxy. Put the alcohol into a spray bottle and spray it on and brush it in with a toothbrush, then give it a final spray/rinse. Take a hair dryer
You want to repair the area for two reasons: seal it up so that there is no chance of water wicking into the fiberglass, and so that the contact surface is maximized between the keel guard and the hull for maximum adhesion.
When you're applying the keel guard, take your time. I used a small paint roller (3" long) to help with the initial contact (to tack it into position so that it stays straight) and then I used the spatula that comes with the install kit to apply max pressure for contact/adhesion. The paint roller idea came from a technique that is used when vinyl laminate is applied to mdf, where a hard rubber/nylon roller is used to compress the two surfaces together.
Good luck.

 

[swatski]

I would NOT cover anything like that with a keelguard. Until it is completely/properly restored.
I think you would be setting yourself up for a gigantic failure down the road. Unless professionally (or at least properly) restored your damaged fiberglass and gel coat will blister under the guard well beyond the areas that are damaged right now, and you will not even know it -- until a big piece of it pops off... Above water line damage from hitting the dock is one thing. A rip through gel coat into the hull fiberglass under water line is another.

--

 

[Amar Nanduri]

@Amar Nanduri, @Murf'n'surf is correct in that you want to fix the damage prior to installing the keel guard. You can get two-part marine epoxy from Home Depot or similar stores. It's tough as nails and will be difficult to sand and smooth out (harder than the gelcoat so be careful not to sand through the gelcoat while smoothing out the epoxy), so keep this in mind when you're applying it. If I were you, I'd give the surface a good cleaning and a final rinse with isopropyl alcohol so that it is clean and dry before you apply the marine epoxy. Put the alcohol into a spray bottle and spray it on and brush it in with a toothbrush, then give it a final spray/rinse. Take a hair dryer
You want to repair the area for two reasons: seal it up so that there is no chance of water wicking into the fiberglass, and so that the contact surface is maximized between the keel guard and the hull for maximum adhesion.
When you're applying the keel guard, take your time. I used a small paint roller (3" long) to help with the initial contact (to tack it into position so that it stays straight) and then I used the spatula that comes with the install kit to apply max pressure for contact/adhesion. The paint roller idea came from a technique that is used when vinyl laminate is applied to mdf, where a hard rubber/nylon roller is used to compress the two surfaces together.
Good luck.

Thanks . Will something like this work?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008...rine+epoxy&dpPl=1&dpID=51aiUASA2JL&ref=plSrch

 

[Murf'n'surf]

I've used this on my keel before installing the keel guard.

https://www.amazon.com/Marine-Tex-R...TF8&qid=1480279293&sr=8-4&keywords=marine+tex

 

[CrankyGypsy]

don't use isopropyl alcohol as it leaves a residue. instead use acetone ...and gloves.

 

[txav8r]

Marine-Tex is a good marine epoxy as @Murf'n'surf says. You don't have to be perfect as your going to cover it, but you want it smooth and without ridges if possible, and uniform with the hull. Only the exposed fiberglass has to be filled. The scratches that don't cut through the gelcoat, exposing the fiberglass, will be fine as they will be hidden under the keel guard. This is possible for you to repair yourself, but you want to read the directions, get the epoxy mixed per directions, and respect the setup times. Good luck with the repair and keel guard upgrade.

 

[Amar Nanduri]

Thanks everyone. I purchased the Marine-Tex mighty repair kit. Will give it a shot and see how it goes.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001446LMW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Best
Amar

 

[Dough]

Do you know how this happened? Have seen this a few times.

 

[Amar Nanduri]

I think it was there when I bought the boat this summer. Just never saw it till this weekend when I went under the boat to install a keelguard. The damage looks like it has been there for sometime. My guess is that it was beached quite a few times and with no keelguard to protect it, it got the damage.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Thanks everyone. I purchased the Marine-Tex mighty repair kit. Will give it a shot and see how it goes.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001446LMW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Best
Amar

Not to alarm you ..... but I wouldnt try to use that stuff.


order the MarineTex epoxy that I posted. The stuff you purchased is a putty and great for filling holes and voids but is not liquid enough to spread out thin over an area like you have.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

https://www.amazon.com/Marine-Tex-R...TF8&qid=1480279293&sr=8-4&keywords=marine+tex

2 of these should be plenty