Bottom damage - repair?

[aa331]

Hello all,
My boat had bottom keel damage when purchased. Area in question is hard (no soft spots), and does not drip when I take it out of the water (no intrusion that I can tell). Should I:
Fix the fiberglass / gelcoat on that area before bottom paint
VS
Just the bottom paint

Not looking for perfection, just don't want any headaches later on.

Thanks, Alex

 

[richie rich]

Tough to tell from the photo....other than the worn off or scratched of gel coat, are there any cracks, chips or glass showing at all?....if its cosmetic...I'd still put a layer of thickened epoxy over it, sand it fair, then paint....it will add some waterproofing........but if your gouged, you may need to grind it back, epoxy in some glass, fair it again, then paint.........it looks like its just been beached a lot..

 

[aa331]

Thanks for your reply RR.

Am I risking additional damage / headaches by using it as it is?

Thanks

 

[richie rich]

Again, its tough to see from that picture....but regardless, even its just really scratched up bad, I would brush or roll on some epoxy in that area, give it a quick sanding with 80 grit and cover it with some bottom paint...anytime you open up the finished surface, you're going to allow a more rapid intrusion of moisture....so the epoxy will seal that out in that area.

But if it has actual cracks in the glass, that needs attention...not just a barrier coat....

Eventually, I would have the bottom sand or soda blasted, barrier coated with Interlux IP then bottom painted for long term protection.