Holes in Keel

This summer I pieced together a boat using abandoned parts off the beach and the rest from my friends left over pieces. I was just getting ready to go out today and noticed the keel has a large hole/gash in it. It appears that someone previously tried to reinforce it but that is now cracking off. Im looking for some suggestions to use as a quick fix for I am not ready to pack up for the winter.

Try some long strand epoxy marine filler from West Marine.

http://www.evercoat.com/productDetail.aspx?pID=38

In the May - June issue of the HOTLINE magazine (pgs. 16 & 17) is a repair article which should help you with that type of repair. If you need more info on repairing the hole send me an email @ [email protected] and I'll try to help out with more detailed advice.

Be careful with the Kitty Hair. Like the long strand stuff West Marine sells Kitty Hair is a polyester (not epoxy) resin-glass fiber mix that kicks off pretty quickly after adding the hardener.

Since they both are polyester based, they are fully compatible with Hobie polyester/fiberglass hulls and gel coat.

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Alan
'86 H16, Sail #89057

To be fair, that's typically more of a pilot error than a product problem. Most 2-parts are pretty sensitive to mix ratios and temperature.

True. That's what I am saying.

I'm AM a pilot, and I have made that error!! From many years working with both polyester and epoxy based fiberglass (skate boards, surf boards, boats, airplanes (not models), and now Hobies), I have found that many of the polyesters kick off much quicker than epoxies. If you are not careful and treat Kitty Hair like many people treat Bondo and other cream hardener activated polyesters, it will kick off on you before you are ready. According to the product sheet, the approximate setting time is 5-6 minutes @ 75°F to 80°F , so if you dawdle or are slow mixer . . . . . . and you shouldn't try to apply it once it starts to thicken/gel!!! Mix it, pick your nose, scratch your b _ _ _ and BAM!!! it has kicked off.

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Alan
'86 H16, Sail #89057

Admittedly, we sometimes get lied to even when we RTFM. Back a few years ago, a company sent us these epoxy kits for repairing their boats. Even though we played by the rules, the epoxy kicked in seconds instead of minutes. It was quite annoying.

Best laid plans....