My newly purchased 1983 hunter 34 has be puzzled.All help needed here on this one please. Boat is on the hard and the bow is set 15 degrees higher than the stern. The keel bolt aft of the bilge continues to have water coming up like an acquifer around the keel bolt. It looks like the SS keel plate has allot of corrosion on it and the center of the plate is bent down. I also noticed some sealer around the edges of the plate possibly boat life caulking was used at one time to try to stop the water from coming in there. My 1st question is if there is water coming to this spot would it be from under the keel bolt in a passage way somewhere under the epoxy? Question 2 has anyone taken the nut off the keel bolt and how would I do that other than a large socket and large breaker bar and pipe for persuasion. Would you suggest heating with a torch before attempting to break the nut. Any danger of backing the bolt out of the keel in the process? Question 3 any ideas where I would get a new SS plate for under the nut and what strength SS it has to be.
aft keel bolt ss plate corrosion / water
- Thread starter hunter healer
- Start date
On the hard and water is still coming out!!!!! Water would not flow up from the keel and I assume that the hull at that point is not a sandwich so you need to find out where the water is coming from first.
As for getting a backing plate under the keel bolt if you have a depression in the fiberglass under the keel you need to repair that first then put the backing plate on. just putting a backing plate will only force more fiberglass to fail around it. This would appear to require dropping the keel to inspect/repair.
As for getting a backing plate under the keel bolt if you have a depression in the fiberglass under the keel you need to repair that first then put the backing plate on. just putting a backing plate will only force more fiberglass to fail around it. This would appear to require dropping the keel to inspect/repair.
thank you, that makes sense, i don't see harm in removing the nut and plate bef i disturb the keel, i looked closely at the keel underneath and i see no stress cracks where it meets the hull? your thoughts on this please
i wonder if the boat were pitched bow down lower to the ground would
that water travel to the bilge?
that water travel to the bilge?
Hi Christian,
I’ll give you a hypothetical answer.
The mast electrical wires are led through the mast step and then bundled through the metal mast post. At the bottom of the mast post they come out in the bilge and are bundled aft to the electrical panel.
We don’t bring our masts down in the winter anymore and so the mast step wire hole gets no maintenance for sealant.
With the bow high attitude of the hull, rainwater comes down the mast and, instead on of draining off the mast step, it drains into the bilge thru the wire hole.
The water then drains down to the bilge and then collects in the aft section of the bilge.
Pour some100 degree antifreeze into the bilge for the winter.
Take the mast down in the Spring and put 30 cents of sealant into the hole.
But before you take the mast down, buy a wire tester and take the wire tension numbers so you can duplicate the rigging.
If you have the B&R (swept back spreaders) rig, the mast is stored with the spreaders up. Don’t loosen the diagonal wires.
Keel bolt issue is a separate issue.
Regards
I’ll give you a hypothetical answer.
The mast electrical wires are led through the mast step and then bundled through the metal mast post. At the bottom of the mast post they come out in the bilge and are bundled aft to the electrical panel.
We don’t bring our masts down in the winter anymore and so the mast step wire hole gets no maintenance for sealant.
With the bow high attitude of the hull, rainwater comes down the mast and, instead on of draining off the mast step, it drains into the bilge thru the wire hole.
The water then drains down to the bilge and then collects in the aft section of the bilge.
Pour some100 degree antifreeze into the bilge for the winter.
Take the mast down in the Spring and put 30 cents of sealant into the hole.
But before you take the mast down, buy a wire tester and take the wire tension numbers so you can duplicate the rigging.
If you have the B&R (swept back spreaders) rig, the mast is stored with the spreaders up. Don’t loosen the diagonal wires.
Keel bolt issue is a separate issue.
Regards
I would build a temporary dam around the bolt to determine where the water is coming from, ie under the bolt or elsewhere in the vessel. Once that is determined a repair can begin. It would be a good idea the remove the nut and plate just see what is going on there. If the keel is lead you can not unscrew the bolts (stud?) if the keel is cast iron they are often changed by unscrewing them and so it might come out. I use a 3/4" drive torque multiplier to re torque our keel bolts.
Good luck and let us know what you discover, Bob
Good luck and let us know what you discover, Bob
Even if water is seeping in under the keel plate and coming up the bolt it has to have a higher point of origin. Now there is usually water trapped in the stringers below the cabin sole but depending on how long the boat has been in the same position it could have stabilized by now. Is it salty or fresh water? This may give an indication of whether it is water trapped in the hull or a rain, water tank, or plumbing system leak. It is hard to find a boat 30+ years old without some rust in the keel plate and bolts; if you post a picture you may be able to get some opinions as to their condition. That may also help gauge that depression you report in the middle of the plate. The fact that there are no cracks in the hull/keel joint is very positive. Dry up the area and pour some talcum powder all over the bottom; it will make it easier to see where the water is coming from. I will not rule anything out as I have seen stranger things but chances are the water is just seeping along the surface of the area and just collecting there.
Thank you, I never thought about the wires coming down to the bilge. I saw wires coming out of the side of the mast up 1 inch above the step and a hole drilled next to the step through the deck which this bundle of wires travel down. I caulked he hole through the deck because it was all cracked and missing pieces. this i did when the weather was warmer. I will look for the water in the bilge and what I would like to do is take the sole up in the cabin and see what I have going on there. I have the 3 tops to the seat lockers off and it looks good after I cleaned up the mess from the rusted out water heater and the leaking holding tank san system.