Another keel bolt question!

[Fishlips]

New to forums. Recently purchased a 1981 Catalina 27. Great boat, very happy. Trying to get some things taken care of. When we take it out for the winter in a couple months we are going to tackle the keel bolts.Actually the bolts are stainless and seem to be in good shape. The nuts and washers are another matter.Very rusty and some are flaking. My plan is once its blocked up to try to back nuts off and replace with ss nuts and washers, clean and repaint. Why on earth didnt they put ss washers and nuts on from the beginning? Any advice? Thanks!

 

[justsomeguy]

New to forums. Recently purchased a 1981 Catalina 27. Great boat, very happy. Trying to get some things taken care of. When we take it out for the winter in a couple months we are going to tackle the keel bolts.Actually the bolts are stainless and seem to be in good shape. The nuts and washers are another matter.Very rusty and some are flaking. My plan is once its blocked up to try to back nuts off and replace with ss nuts and washers, clean and repaint. Why on earth didnt they put ss washers and nuts on from the beginning? Any advice? Thanks!

They may be a lower grade of stainless...maybe.

You might as well start now by putting a few drops of penetrant/oil on the nuts.

By the time you get around to the job with good SS hardware, they should be easily removed and replaced one at a time.

 

[Fishlips]

Thanks. At least the bolts are shiny. There is no Catalina smile either. No cracks at all on outside of keel. I hope it stays that way!

 

[justsomeguy]

Me, too!
While thinking about your keel today, I wondered why you couldn't just change out your keel nuts while afloat. Do you think that might increase your chances of creating a smile?

 

[njlarry]

I would wait till you are on the hard safe and sound before messing with the keel in any way. Why look for trouble? They should be easier to loosen when supported than when hanging from the hull.

 

[sailor164]

Just get some more reading and device. There is some articles that suggest that a certain amour of rust is engineered into keel design because it strengthen the bond by spreading the load on the thread better.

 

[Fishlips]

I appreciate the comments guys, but I will wait till its out of the water and the weight is on the keel. Then I will have a dryer environment to paint and maybe upgrade bilge pump.My plan is to change out the gate valves at that time also.
Even though she is in good shape,its a boat,plenty of stuff to do! I already serviced engine,repaired sails,installed battery charger and solar panel,and a bunch of little things.Old boats are like old people, they always need some TLC.

 

[Ajay73]

I had the same issue on my 1980, nuts were bad but bolts were excellent. When I took out the plywood in the sump they were good all the way down. The nuts came off relatively easily. I'm in fresh water and that helps with any corrosion issues.

 

[South Sagle Jim]

A newbie also. Just got a 1975 Catalina 22 and was not able (or knowledgeable enough) to assess the crank system and the keel bolt and crank system while on the trailer. I will be taking to launch in a week or so and I do not want to lose the keel at the boat launch or dock. I am looking for info on how to be sure what to look for outside the boat and inside if possible. I have seen a San Juan 23 all torn down to replace the plywood and entire system so I am perhaps overly sensitive to potential issues. Comments welcome.

 

[dziedzicmj]

Before you do this job, find out what should be the torque when re-torquing the nuts. This is usually a reasonably specific value (don't do it by feel alone). And be prepared that you need a lot of torque (i.e. a burly guy or a long extension).

 

[dive7mmwet]

we did all the Cat 27 upgrades and when on the hard and load on the keel take one off at a time, upgrade with LARGER SS washers and a top washer to spread the load out further on the plywood stub, if you don't have the smile yet YOU WILL ,on the hard drill a small hole in the keel bilge thru the glass and check the plywood, if soft and wet dig it out not a fun job but adds value to the boat if ok and I doubt it water runs down threads and rots plywood and look how old boat is< glass hole shut, If PO did up grade you will run into glass in stub just glass hole in, Good luck