Keel bolt Plates

[zcorda]

I have a 1982 Hunter with what looks like some kind of triangular fiberglass plate just below the four front keel bolts, in the bilge area.
I believe it is to spread the weight of the keel, over the whole plate, not just at the four bolts. Well the plate is starting to warp a bit, and I figure I may need to replace it.

Any idea where I could buy a replacement plate, in San Francisco preferably, or have one fabricated out of aluminum or metal? How I would go about replacing it also. I will be hauling out in a little over a month.

 

[Hermit Scott]

I have a 1982 Hunter with what looks like some kind of triangular fiberglass plate just below the four front keel bolts, in the bilge area.
I believe it is to spread the weight of the keel, over the whole plate, not just at the four bolts. Well the plate is starting to warp a bit, and I figure I may need to replace it.

Any idea where I could buy a replacement plate, in San Francisco preferably, or have one fabricated out of aluminum or metal? How I would go about replacing it also. I will be hauling out in a little over a month.

I would find out why it is warping before I thought about replacing it.

 

[sailingdog]

HS's point is a good one. I'd also add that aluminum is a lousy material for this purpose. On most boats, the bilge is going to get wet, and using an aluminum plate with stainless steel, galvanized steel or bronze keel bolts is a big mistake.

 

[zcorda]

I think it may be warping cause of what it is made of, looks like some kind of laminate such as fiberglass. Not sure if it is original although it looks like the proper size and everything, otherwise. It may be that the previous owner tightened the keel bolts pretty tight, I remember him saying, and after a few years it seemed to warp a little at the front. They look like very clean galvanized bolts, or possibly dull stainless steel, likely the former, and so I understand that aluminum is not a good choice now. Thanks for that info.

Any idea of a suitable metal for this. I am thinking I may need to get Svendsen's boatyard custom fabricators to make me something suitable, or need info from Hunter themselves, or a part if it can be ordered, but not sure who to contact in Hunter for this kind of thing.

 

[sailingdog]

It depends on what the keel bolts are made of. If you can get the backing plates made of the same material, it reduces the chances of galvanic interaction between the two. Solid fiberglass would work as well.

Any idea of a suitable metal for this. I am thinking I may need to get Svendsen's boatyard custom fabricators to make me something suitable, or need info from Hunter themselves, or a part if it can be ordered, but not sure who to contact in Hunter for this kind of thing.

 

[kenn]

Any idea of a suitable metal for this. I am thinking I may need to get Svendsen's boatyard custom fabricators to make me something suitable, or need info from Hunter themselves, or a part if it can be ordered, but not sure who to contact in Hunter for this kind of thing.

The best use of your money might be to get a pro from the boatyard or elsewhere to look at the plate and to tell you what they think, just to make sure that you don't have a more serious problem. Armed with their advice, you could then fabricate or purchase a new plate, if it turns out to be necessary.

 

[Hermit Scott]

My initial guess was someone compulsively tightening the keel bolts. There may be nothing wrong underneath. Stick a magnet to the keel bolts and see if it sticks.