Sam III
01-29-2009, 11:03 PM
We are having a keel fin cast in iron. We will be encapsulating the iron fin in a fiberglass skin.
Any guidance on what to coat/treat the iron with protect it under the skin?
Sam
Grind the surface of the fin clean with 100 - 120 grit paper, wipe immediately with a acetone damp towel, let it flash off, then immediately apply straight, unthickened epoxy. If you work "wet on wet" and apply additional coats of epoxy, you can get the fabric on with a chemical bond (which is always best). I'd recommend a minimum of three base coats of epoxy, followed by the fabric. Wait until the third coat is just barely tacky or has just lost it's tackiness, before applying fabric layers.
If you use a different resin then epoxy, eventually moisture will get to the keel, cause it to rust and pop off the sheathing.
PAR’s advice is right on. You really want to get something on the keel fast after the keel is "shiny."
