lead keel repair

[TLEO]

Let the questions begin....

We have two large ugly spots on the wing of our keel, the Chandler told us to use the 3M premium filler but the label says not to use on lead. Has anyone had to fill spots on their keels? if so what did you use and what was the outcome.

 

[Loren Beach]

When we had our new-to-us boat trucked home from SF, there was an indentation the size of the small baseball in the bottom of the leading edge. Quite a 'divot' in the lead. The yard ground it back a little where the lead was pushed out around the 'crater' and filled it with something, and it was likely epoxy-based filler. The area is still indistinguishable from the rest of the keel today. You want to get the surface clean and roughed up to give tooth to the filler.
Admittedly it's easier to get a filling to stay if the sides of the cavity are steeper, as your dentist proves when he/she drills to form a proper cavity for the filling material.
IMHO, 36 grit to rough up the lead, and immediately apply the filler before any oxidation can occur.

 

[Christian Williams]

I don;t know what else that would be but a (nonsignificant) casting defect. As Loren says, grind it out and fill with something. Anything.

 

[Bolo]

A far worse case then your keel TLEO but a video with lots of info that should help:

 

[Tin Kicker]

I'd suggest sanding the area to remove the paint and digging in with an old screwdriver or chisel to see what the material is and the extent of it. The color is either bond or something with iron content and as far as I know, the keel should be lead.

 

[Rocinante33]

Is that a lag bolt inside the damage? Is there rust from it? That might account for the rust color. A bolt undoubtedly passes through the wing and through the keel stub.

Was galvanic corrosion involved here?

which Ericson model is this?

 

[TLEO]

thought I would update this post with our finished work. Be kind