Hull Repair on centerline

[Ed]

Hi Brent-

My Mako had a worn keel very similar to yours when I bought it. First thing I did was wipe it down with acetone and than I got out the grinder (36 grit) and ground back about 4 inches all the way around. Then I blew it off with some compressed air, and wiped clean again with acetone. Next, I took some 1.5oz mat that was smaller than the repair area and glassed it in. Then I took another piece of 1.5 oz mat that was the same size of the repair area and glassed it in too. With both pieces, I mixed some white gelcoat with wax into the resin. The gelcoat will help hide the repair.

After the glass cured, I carefully ground down any excess and than I started fairing it out. Once I was able to fair it down to match the original lines, I took some matching gelcoat mixed with a tiny bit of cabosil and brushed it on. Once the brushed on gelcoat cured, I sanded it down with 180 grit. I also sanded the area around the repair down with 180 grit.

To finish it off, I had my buddy spray on a few coats of gelcoat and then I wetsanded and buffed it. After a few years you can see that it was repaired (because the new gelcoat fades at a different rate from the original gelcoat) but it is very strong.

As finster said, if you can also get inside the hull and lay up a few layers that is an added bonus as far as strength is concerned but was not necessary in my case....

Good luck.

Ed