Keel bolt leak

[RJMartin]

RE: 1970-71 V224.This boat is new to us this summer and we just started keeping the boat in the water recently. We have a leak around the keel bolt. Don't know whether it occurs more/only when we're sailing or if leaking just when moored. I discovered 5-6 gallons of water in compartment after boat had been in the water for 96 hours or so and had been sailed for 10-12 hours with keel raised and lowered 3-4 times.I have the original instructions and have read one other post on this topic, so I'm familiar with the bolt assembly and rubber washers.My questions are: how common is it for this assembly to leak? Is some leakage normal? Can I just monitor the leak this season and work on it this fall when I pull the boat out of the water?Thanks for advice!

 

[novelman17128]

I have a 1971, 22' Venture. It does not leak at all, however I have sealed the bolt that locks the keel which did leak, since I never use it. It is sealed with several layers of tape. Also, my keel cable pipe leaked where the cable exited the pipe. I wrapped several layers of the same 1" tape including up the cable for several inches. It works.Novelman

 

[Aaron]

Swing keel boat

My keel swing bolt used to be dry but the last two outings had leakage. The previous owner removed the nut so I'm going to put on a lock washer and nut to compress the rubber down to stop the leaking. If that doesn't work, I might caulk it, don't know.Good idea on the keel cable tube, I'll just toss tape on and hope it helps. That's where my bilge pump T's into. Don't know a better place to connect the bilge pump into.