During a difficult recovery in bad weather we managed to drive HideAway's keel into the wrong side of a side bunk. Correcting the navigational error caused gouges to the keel and our serenity. Since HideAway, a Com-Pac 23, hull #2, has a fixed keel with concrete ballast protected by 40 years accumulation of bottom paint, most of the damage was limited to paint scratches. Except this one:
Macro photography revealed the deepest gouge did not penetrate the fiberglass fixed keel. It did, however remove the gelcoat. I acquired a quart of Total Boat Total Fair epoxy fairing compound from Jamestown Distributers. The product is available in pint, quart and gallon sizes. I feared a pint may not be adequate so I bought the quart. Clever marketing, these Jamestown folks.
The product performs as advertised. Its easy to mix and forgiving enough that precise measurement does not seem necessary as long as the mix turns a UNIFORM light green. If is doesn't just add a dab of the other color, yellow or blue, and mix, making sure all of the product on your mixer is consumed. Ya'all are familiar with 3M Marine Adhesive Sealants I'm sure. Total Fair is just as gooey and sloppy! You have been warned.
A word about safety equipment: You need it. Especially the mask and chemical resistant long gloves. The product is easy to sand, but that really means lots of fine dust. My orbital sander connects to a shop vacuum and that helps a lot, but your lungs will thank you if you wear the proper mask.
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SMALL BOATS ROCK!!!
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