I’m looking to purchase a 25.5 and have found one that appears in good shape except for a possible problem in the keel area. This boat has the shoal draft keel. Towards the rear of the keel in an area about an inch and a half down from the hull there is a rusty crack line running about one foot along the keel. Inside the boat I can see two large Stainless Steel bolts securing the keel at about the mid point. They are clean with no rust. The single Stainless Steel bolt securing the rear of the keel has a lot of rust marks on it that coincides with the rust in the same area of the keel on the outside. Obviously the stainless steel bolts are not rusting - it’s the rust from the keel getting through and onto the bolts. Is this a big problem? Is there some kind of seal between the keel and the hull like a rubber gasket or goop? Does it mean the keel is loose? What’s the best plan of action? Anyone have any idea? Thanks, STU
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Stuart, No leak no big deal.
I have a shoal draft keel on my 25.5. Its is in really bad shape from running aground and rust eating away at it for years. My keel bolts are slightly rusted too but as long as it doesnt leak its no big deal. I ground most of the rust off my keel with a grinding wheel and filled a couple cracks with JB Weld. Followed up with thick, thick coats of Interlux Interprotect 2000e and finally Interlux Optima anitfouling paint.
I have a shoal draft keel on my 25.5. Its is in really bad shape from running aground and rust eating away at it for years. My keel bolts are slightly rusted too but as long as it doesnt leak its no big deal. I ground most of the rust off my keel with a grinding wheel and filled a couple cracks with JB Weld. Followed up with thick, thick coats of Interlux Interprotect 2000e and finally Interlux Optima anitfouling paint.
Not in the water
Ted, Thanks for your response. I don't know if there are any leaks since the boat is out of the water and has been all winter. There is a very small amount of water in the area of the keel bolts and a small bilge pump in the same spot!! I wonder if that means it was or is leaking!!! Do you know if there is any kind if seal between the keel and the hull like a gasket or something like that? STU
Ted, Thanks for your response. I don't know if there are any leaks since the boat is out of the water and has been all winter. There is a very small amount of water in the area of the keel bolts and a small bilge pump in the same spot!! I wonder if that means it was or is leaking!!! Do you know if there is any kind if seal between the keel and the hull like a gasket or something like that? STU
Stuart, My buddy at Hunter says
they used a two part marine epoxy to seal the hull to the keel. As for the water around the bilge and bolts, that is from rain water. The fact that there is standing water tells you that seal around the bolts and keel is good. The 25.5's are bad about leaking rain around the pop top seal and from the pop top itself. The pop top seal is easly replaced. The pop top is notorious for filling up with rain water and then leaking into the cabin through the latch bolts. You will notice when you lift the top, a top full of water is HEAVY. The water gets into the top through puncture holes caused slamming the sliding top all the way forward. To patch this take off the teak slide guides. You will find the puncture holes, foward where the slide comes to a stop at full open. Ted
they used a two part marine epoxy to seal the hull to the keel. As for the water around the bilge and bolts, that is from rain water. The fact that there is standing water tells you that seal around the bolts and keel is good. The 25.5's are bad about leaking rain around the pop top seal and from the pop top itself. The pop top seal is easly replaced. The pop top is notorious for filling up with rain water and then leaking into the cabin through the latch bolts. You will notice when you lift the top, a top full of water is HEAVY. The water gets into the top through puncture holes caused slamming the sliding top all the way forward. To patch this take off the teak slide guides. You will find the puncture holes, foward where the slide comes to a stop at full open. Ted
Rust marks
There are rust stains only around the rear keel bolt together with rust on the outside of the keel in the same area. The front two bolts are as clean as can be. Stainless steel does not rust. So, where is it coming from?? From what your buddy at Hunter says, the keel is sealed to the hull so therefore there should be no water leakage. In this case I think there must be minimal leakage! It appears as though the seal between the keel and hull is broken allowing the rusty water from the keel to penetrate into the area of the rear bolt. I'm new to all this but that is what I think must be happening. I have to wonder how much it will leak when put into the water.
There are rust stains only around the rear keel bolt together with rust on the outside of the keel in the same area. The front two bolts are as clean as can be. Stainless steel does not rust. So, where is it coming from?? From what your buddy at Hunter says, the keel is sealed to the hull so therefore there should be no water leakage. In this case I think there must be minimal leakage! It appears as though the seal between the keel and hull is broken allowing the rusty water from the keel to penetrate into the area of the rear bolt. I'm new to all this but that is what I think must be happening. I have to wonder how much it will leak when put into the water.
Rust
Stuart, The 25.5 is a great boat, but the rust and crack are suspicious. If it were me I would be cautious, not so much for a small leak but the possibility of structural damage. As a minimum I would want to look at the underside of the hull around the aft part of the keel with the bottom paint removed. By teh way, did you look at the forward bolts? (Under the small piece of cabin sole in the forward caompartment). Dave Weir "Last Resort"
Stuart, The 25.5 is a great boat, but the rust and crack are suspicious. If it were me I would be cautious, not so much for a small leak but the possibility of structural damage. As a minimum I would want to look at the underside of the hull around the aft part of the keel with the bottom paint removed. By teh way, did you look at the forward bolts? (Under the small piece of cabin sole in the forward caompartment). Dave Weir "Last Resort"
Cautious
Dave, Thanks for your input. As you can tell, I am being very cautious. This would be my first boat so I don't want to get stung. No I did not look at the front bolts. I did not realise there were any!! I just saw two tegether in the main cabin that I estimated as being about the center of the keel and the one at the back. The rusty crack line on the rear of the keel is not large but I noticed it immeadiately when approaching the boat. Then, when I looked inside and saw the rust stains on the single bolt at the rear I began to wonder. I'm just trying to understand more about the mechanics of this and what might be wrong. STU
Dave, Thanks for your input. As you can tell, I am being very cautious. This would be my first boat so I don't want to get stung. No I did not look at the front bolts. I did not realise there were any!! I just saw two tegether in the main cabin that I estimated as being about the center of the keel and the one at the back. The rusty crack line on the rear of the keel is not large but I noticed it immeadiately when approaching the boat. Then, when I looked inside and saw the rust stains on the single bolt at the rear I began to wonder. I'm just trying to understand more about the mechanics of this and what might be wrong. STU
Stuart, Stainless does not rust???
Stainless does rust. Almost all stainless contains iron. Only the super high grade stainless made with out iron will not rust. My bolt is rusting and I have no leak. You may be right about the water getting down around the bolt and the threads in the keel causing the rust, but that doesnt mean the water came from the keel. If you suspect water coming in the seal into the thread bore and up around the bolt then why would water be standing in the bilge? With the boat out of water I would think the water would drain back out if there was truely an issue. Does you teak cabinets show signs of a high water mark? (humor)
But hey you dont own the boat yet. A sea trial will solve the mystery once and for all.. Ted
Stainless does rust. Almost all stainless contains iron. Only the super high grade stainless made with out iron will not rust. My bolt is rusting and I have no leak. You may be right about the water getting down around the bolt and the threads in the keel causing the rust, but that doesnt mean the water came from the keel. If you suspect water coming in the seal into the thread bore and up around the bolt then why would water be standing in the bilge? With the boat out of water I would think the water would drain back out if there was truely an issue. Does you teak cabinets show signs of a high water mark? (humor)
But hey you dont own the boat yet. A sea trial will solve the mystery once and for all.. TedWhy not the other
Ted, Thanks for your input. Here's my point again. The three bolts I can see are ALL in a small amount of water - maybe 1/2" to 3/4". Why does ONLY the back one have rust stains??? Of course I'm not sure of the front since I did not realise there was one.
Ted, Thanks for your input. Here's my point again. The three bolts I can see are ALL in a small amount of water - maybe 1/2" to 3/4". Why does ONLY the back one have rust stains??? Of course I'm not sure of the front since I did not realise there was one.
Stuart, The back bolts are lower than the front.
I never have much water in my bilge. What little water I have always runs down hill and accmulates around the back bolts and the front are dry. My front bolts dont have rust either. I'm not saying to ignore this I am just saying that more than likely you will be ok, but I recommend a sea trial before buying any boat. Remove all the water from the bilge, put her in and see if she floats!!! Hope it works out for you, I really like my 25.5. Ted
I never have much water in my bilge. What little water I have always runs down hill and accmulates around the back bolts and the front are dry. My front bolts dont have rust either. I'm not saying to ignore this I am just saying that more than likely you will be ok, but I recommend a sea trial before buying any boat. Remove all the water from the bilge, put her in and see if she floats!!! Hope it works out for you, I really like my 25.5. Ted
Makes sense
Ted, Thanks again. It's begining to make a little sense to me. The way the boat is sitting on land is probably different to that in the water. You are correct - a sea trial would be the next step.
Ted, Thanks again. It's begining to make a little sense to me. The way the boat is sitting on land is probably different to that in the water. You are correct - a sea trial would be the next step.
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