Quick fix for worn keel

What would be the best way to fix a very small (less than 1/2 in.) section of keel that is gouged out causing a very small crack in the keel? I don't think there is much water ingress at all, given that the amount of water coming out of the hulls after a hard sail hasn't really changed. I know a bottom job is in the future, but I'd prefer to do something a little more temporary until the season is over. Would thickened epoxy do the trick for the meantime... heavy duty duct tape maybe???

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James
86' Redline Hobie 16
Sail # 76909

MarineTex. Sand out and remove any loose bits and clean thoroughly with acetone first.

Based on threat title "quick fix" and the area is only 1/2" a inch long.

To fix professionally with the glass, sanding, fairing, resins and spraying several coats of jelcoat sounds like a big ordeal unless the boat is new.

There's a good chance by the end of the year the sand will have ground out the small repair for you ;0)

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Tim Grover

Memphis, TN fleet 134
Hobie 20! G-Cat5.0 and 2 Hobie 14's
Photobucket now wants $100 to post pics on forums......... pass.

There is very little time difference between doing it right and doing a quickie repair. If you factor in the amount of time required to remove the repair later, your temporary repair is going to take a lot longer.

Smearing thickened resin or Marine Tex (essentially the same thing) into a crack in the bottom of your boat isn't going to add any structural strength to the damaged area and is going to take quite a bit of effort to grind out later when you decide to do the repair right.

You'd be much better off just flipping the boat over, grinding out the crack, and laminating in a couple layers of glass/mat using polyester resin. You may even be able to do it with the boat right-side-up sitting on the trailer. This would take virtually the same amount of time as doing a Marine Tex repair, but it would be permanent, structurally sound, and ready for additional fiberglass layers or gelcoat when you get around to doing the bottom job.

sm

This stuff works killer in a pinch too. $10. Repaired a similar crack on my '81 H16 and is still hard as a rock solid and watertight after 3 years of heavy sailing.
The have this at most hardware stores too.


http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0009QW5I ... ref=plSrch

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Tim Grover

Memphis, TN fleet 134
Hobie 20! G-Cat5.0 and 2 Hobie 14's
Photobucket now wants $100 to post pics on forums......... pass.

Thanks guys. SRM you made some good points there. I may do a small fiberglass patch until I get around to having the time to do a quality bottom job.

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James
86' Redline Hobie 16
Sail # 76909

+1 for a quick and dirty fix.
I had a non through hull gouge in my Getaway keel and used a similar marine epoxy repair stick.
Really thought it would have worn or fell off by now, but it is still tight.

I almost wonder if this stuff would be worth trying as a keel wear guard.

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2004 Getaway with wings

We'll see. The reason I was asking about the epoxy is because I have some on hand already. I also have some thickening agents as well. I'd need to order fiberglass tape and polyester to put glass on the bottom, but I agree that is what probably makes the most sense.

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James
86' Redline Hobie 16
Sail # 76909