Swing Keel Zinc Coating
My plan was to use a zinc rich coating (a.k.a. cold galvanizing compound) on the keel as a base coat and rust inhibitor. I used a product from ZRC Worldwide. It is an industrial coating and has about 95% zinc in the dry film. It costs about $30 per quart.
It took seemingly an eternity to sand and grind the keel down to bare metal. I took the keel out of the boat in November 2001. I worked on the keel periodically during the winter months and was ready to apply the zinc coating in May 2002. Prior to applying the ZRC, I gave the keel one last cleaning with Naval Jelly, which is a popular rust removal product. I moved the keel outside the garage to apply the Zinc coating.
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| Keel in wooden brace | Zinc Rich Compund (ZRC) applied and drying |
Once two coats of ZRC had been applied and allowed to dry for a couple of days, it was time to begin the epoxy and fiberglass operation. (on to next page)