3dnorth
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Drain hole?I have a hole (that had been sealed) on the trailing edge of the keel on my E35.
The hole is about 15" inches from the bottom of the keel.
It had been seeping somewhat, when I drlled it though all of the antifreeze in the Bilge spewed out. I seems strange that a hole this far down is connected to the bilge...is this normal?
Should I keep this set up and simply reseal the hole with epoxy or should I seal the hole in both the keel and the bilge?
Appreciate any feedback
PS. can I simply coat an epoxy repair with VC17 or do I need to first seal the repair with something else?
thanks 3dnorth #153 
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endvr32
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Drain holes in keels are not typically common but I do run across them from time to time. My personal opinion is that the fewer holes in a boat, the better so my recommendation is to eliminate it. Other than allowing you to drain the bilge when the boat is hauled, there is no other practical purpose for it---other than to let water into your boat. You should be keeping the bilge dry anyway and with the boat in the water, you have to do that from the cabin anyway.
I'd FILL the hole with Epoxy, fair it, prime it, and then paint it. Epoxy is the least water permeable solution.
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3dnorth
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Thanks Paul
Appreciate your feedback
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bobfnbw
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Make sure you repair it properly with a 12 to 1 bevel.
I too think you should seal it tight.
West systems has a primer on it , just google it.
bob
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3dnorth
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Bob, thanks for your reply
I have already filled it, What I did was drill another very small 1/16 vent hole 1" from the bottom of the keel then I poured west system directly into the bilge in the area where I noticed the water was draining into. Eventually the liquid epoxy starting oozing out othe the hole...initially it was black and contaminated,when it turned a normal color i taped the hole and let it cure. Later I poured 1/4" of thickened epoxy over the entire bottom of the aft bilge compartment in order to fully encase the exposed lead and form a level clean surface on which to place the bilge pumps. I injected the vent hole with thickend epoxy and sealed both holes with VC TAR. Next step will be to paint the bilge with an epoxy primer than then bilgekote.
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