Keel Repair Mac v222

[Bigdamdork]

Good afternoon. I am starting to work on my new to me 78 Macgregor V222 and decided to start with baby steps. The rudder has a little bit of damage and I have zero experience in fiberglass so it's a match made in heaven. Picture one show the leading edge of the bottom of the rudder. Obviously it got banged up a bit but not bad. I sanded it down a bit and structurally it looks fine. My question is what do I use to build that edge back up? I've read everything from bondo, to resin to microballons, to marine grade fiberglass, etc. Any thoughts on what would bond well there? Not sure what the core is but it is almost chalky for lack of a better term?


Picture two is the top of bottom part of the retractable rudder. As you can see it was some separation on the very top but it's limited. I've seen rudders where the fiberglass has split but it hasn't here. I'm an amateur wood worker and part of me thinks if I just inject some wood glue (resin?) in there and clamp it down it should reattach just fine? then put one layer of fiberglass over the repair? Thoughts?


FInally.....there was a bit of wear between the rudder and the steel plate that joins the two halves together. It's hard to see on the rudder itself but you can see where the steel has been worn away after I ground off what was on there. It wasn't rust, it was the white outer coating of the rudder. I'll probably just replace the steel plate easy enough (or just flip it over) but what would you recommend I fill in where the rudder has degraded here? Gel Coat? Fiberglass?


Finally....once the repairs are done....how should I finish? Just marine paint? Gel Coat?

Sorry for being such a noobie. I can tear apart a motorcycle and put it back together but fiberglass scares me.

I totally appreciate any advice and suggestions you have. Feel free to make fun of/correct if my terminology is off.

[traylorsaylor]

You'll soon learn that you can't keep the leading edge of your rudder in good repair. I work on mine all the time. I've considered a stainless steel plate to protect it but it looks like it's too hard to shape anything to fit and how can it be fastened on without screws? I own a 1980 Venture 22 that has a different rudder arrangement. My rudder isn't damaged that much so I use epoxy to reshape it and paint it with oil-based Rustoleum. It uses the same formula as boat paint. Others may recommend epoxy paint or something else.
Your idea of glueing the components back together sounds like a good idea if you use a C-clamp and epoxy. It looks like that's the way it was made originally. You might want to paint it with Rustoluem, too.
Hope this is of some help though I'm sure there are others who have better ideas. Good luck.

[Ixneigh]

Strike bondo from your marine lexicon right now.
-waits while you do-

Ok now that's out of the way.

For repairing corners that have worn away, use several circles cut from fiberglass cloth. They should be slightly larger in diameter then the next. Apply the smallest first then overlap with the next largest. The circle shape conforms to odd contors well. Do not use the matted type fiberglass for this type of repair. I would use five or six layers to give yourself some extra wear resistance and extend the repair at least an inch or two past the damage all around.
Sand the area very well, and at least 1/2 inch larger then your repair area. Epoxy resin is the most durable but is more expensive. If you've never done fiberglass at all, practice on something first. It's easy once you know how.
Start small using say an ounce of resin and some scraps of cloth, the scraps left over from cutting those circles out.
After you fix the area you can sand it smooth and use a bit of epoxy filler for any imperfections.
Then paint it with whatever oil based paint you have.

I find the hardest part is mixing the resin correctly. Don't just guess!! Or it won't work right. Mix it well for about a minute in an old tuna can or something. West Marine sells a fiberglass epoxy repair kit that's handy and has everything you need. It costs about 35.00 but I bet you could find it on amazon for less.

Lastly don't use regular wood glue anywhere except maybe inside. Gorilla glue is pretty good, epoxy is better.
Anything outside that is delaminated will be better with epoxy.

Also you can actually attach stuff with fiberglass. You could bend a strip of metal around the leading edge the same thickness as the rudder and hold it in place with tabs of fiberglass at the ends.
Ix

[mastreb]

Strike bondo from your marine lexicon right now.
-waits while you do-

Ok now that's out of the way.

[Bigdamdork]

Thank you for the advice! (Both on the repair and the used of the word that has been stricken from my marine lexicon)

I'll let you know how it goes.

[Bigdamdork]

So I have more or less finished the repair portion of my rudder (I can't believe I called it a keel.....I know at least that much and can't edit the title now) I had a couple of questions if you don't mind.

1) What kind of paint for the rudder? I heard "any oil based paint" but is there one that is better than another for being in water?

2) The pivot hole is a bit blown out because there was a half inch threaded bolt in there so I was thinking of just drilling it out a bit bigger and possibly putting a sleeve inside of it so the bolt isn't in direct contact with the rudder when I'm swinging the rudder up and down. (get ready for stupid question) Should I use a brass sleeve and a SS bolt with no threads? I see copper being used on moving parts and I'm sure why. I know it's a softer metal, etc but not sure if this would be a good application for copper?

As always I appreciate the help. Let me know if these pictures aren't showing? I couldn't see them in the thread and I might be doing something wrong? Thanks!!

This is where I started

This was last application before final sanding. I know, I know...not a huge repair but it was the first time I got to play with Fiberglass so it's a big deal for me.

[Ixneigh]

West marine sells a fair paint by interlux for about 45.00 a quart. Rustoleum would probably work as well. I use the interlux on my boat because I like the blue they have. The paint holds up reasonably well for a one part paint.
One big big caveat here. Do not paint over new epoxy resin or glue with interlux brightsides (maybe any oil paint) because the paint will not set. At least not for weeks. Let the epoxy cure for several days first.
Oh ask me how I know this.

Ix

[topcat0399]

It just so happens that our old rudder and tiller is the one item
on the boat that commands the most repair time.

I've named it FORD (fix or repair daily).
Someday it may be found on road dead...