1996 Hunter 336 Shoal Draft Wing Keel
Yard Chronicles Day 5:
6 months after our survey haul out we are hauled out again for a bottom job and rudder repair that we knew about when we bought it. This time we noticed movement in the keel when it was on the travel lift the keel moves almost an inch or so left to right. Most of the movement appears to be around the keel joint. No water leaks into bilge. We suspect the boat had been grounded by the previous owner, and twice it has been softly grounded by us, we also dragged a crab pot for a mile or so before realizing recently. Our keel bolts were loose ish when we tested those. Started turning (tightening) at around 70 FT lbs. Mostly friction for the first 20 degrees of turning. We could not find the official specs for our bolts from Hunter but the chart circulating online said 135 ft lbs for 3/4” bolts and we were a bit nervous to do them that much. Since we also don’t know the condition of the bolts I only torqued to 85 ft lbs planning on to torquing to 100 ft lbs after i clean and lube the threads. I believe 124 ish was the max torque for 3/4 inch stainless bolts. Even after torquing the keel bolts we still have movement (torquing to 85 ft lbs didnt seem to reduce any movement). We are considering grinding down the cracks along the keel joint and filling with 5200 or Gflex, the fairing and paint. Also considering laying a few layers of glass around the joint also to add some strength (would fill the crack with something that the glass/epoxy would adhear to instead of 5200 if we chose this route). We know some flex is the nature of the beast for these boats and results in the “Hunter smile” ( however nobody is smiling at the moment). We are trying to figure out what is an acceptable amount of movement/flex and what is not acceptable? Anyone have experience with this issue and could determine the best option forward?
Spiraling here,
Thanks for any advice.
Yard Chronicles Day 5:
6 months after our survey haul out we are hauled out again for a bottom job and rudder repair that we knew about when we bought it. This time we noticed movement in the keel when it was on the travel lift the keel moves almost an inch or so left to right. Most of the movement appears to be around the keel joint. No water leaks into bilge. We suspect the boat had been grounded by the previous owner, and twice it has been softly grounded by us, we also dragged a crab pot for a mile or so before realizing recently. Our keel bolts were loose ish when we tested those. Started turning (tightening) at around 70 FT lbs. Mostly friction for the first 20 degrees of turning. We could not find the official specs for our bolts from Hunter but the chart circulating online said 135 ft lbs for 3/4” bolts and we were a bit nervous to do them that much. Since we also don’t know the condition of the bolts I only torqued to 85 ft lbs planning on to torquing to 100 ft lbs after i clean and lube the threads. I believe 124 ish was the max torque for 3/4 inch stainless bolts. Even after torquing the keel bolts we still have movement (torquing to 85 ft lbs didnt seem to reduce any movement). We are considering grinding down the cracks along the keel joint and filling with 5200 or Gflex, the fairing and paint. Also considering laying a few layers of glass around the joint also to add some strength (would fill the crack with something that the glass/epoxy would adhear to instead of 5200 if we chose this route). We know some flex is the nature of the beast for these boats and results in the “Hunter smile” ( however nobody is smiling at the moment). We are trying to figure out what is an acceptable amount of movement/flex and what is not acceptable? Anyone have experience with this issue and could determine the best option forward?
Spiraling here,
Thanks for any advice.
.