Hi Leif I've almost completed my centerboard rebuild. I believe that sandblasting, while expensive, is the only way to get all the rust. If you don't get it all, then it'll continue to rust UNDER your new paint/fairing job. Sandblasting mine cost $70, then I sprayed with a high-zinc "cold galvanizing" primer from Rustoleum, I think. Naturally, when I went to pick up the sandblasted and primed C-board it was raining, and it got wet in the back of the truck. The next day, you could see some faint orange spots in the primer. I gave these a quick brushing with Ospho, which is a trade name for phosphoric acid. After a day, the orange spots appeared whitish. Gave these a wipe with a rag that was SLIGHTLY dampened with acetone, then coated the whole board with straight epoxy. mixed another batch of epoxy with microballoons to fill the pits... some were very deep. That's as far as I've gotten. The surface of the board is reasonably smooth, but the leading edge still needs some thick filler and a good sanding overall. The primer seems compatible with the epoxy, it's the same stuff I used on my Mac centerboard. Hope this helps BG -- Brian Gilbert Marine Media M17 "Tiny Dancer" (ex "Stargazer") (423)876-9990 3404 Hartford Drive Chattanooga, TN 37415 www.sailingsmall.com on 10/22/05 8:57 PM, montgomery_boats-request@mailman.xmission.com at montgomery_boats-request@mailman.xmission.com wrote:

Hello to all:

I've made good progress on bringing my M-17 back, and will be launching before Christmas. I just got a look at the bottom 18" of the steel CB. It looks like it was never taken care of in any way. Severe rust. I plan to grind and fill with epoxy filler, but I need suggestions on what to coat the steel with. Coal Tar Epoxy? Red Lead? or whatever.

All of your suggestions and advice is appreciated.

Thanks,

Leif Eriksson