keel bolt leaks

SHW

.
Aug 19, 2016
3
Hunter 49 Pompano Beach
Hello, I have a Hunter 49, wing keel and have noticed water in the sump under the generator. The boat has not been hard aground. I hauled the boat to put a new bottom on her and noticed two hairline fractures about 8" long on the leading edge and the same on the trailing edge at the butt joint of the keel and keel stub. Does anyone have any thoughts about whether or not the keel bolts should be retighted before doing an epoxy repair at the crack? Thanks.
 
Dec 25, 2000
5,945
Hunter Passage 42 Shelter Bay, WA
We did a keel stub repair on our boat in 2004. Dropped the keel, cleaned the joint, re-bed with 3M5200 and splashed. The joint seal has been solid ever since after cruising several thousand miles.

Something compromised the stub seal on your boat. You can try the steps you referenced, which may work. If it were mine I would lift the boat off of the keel, clean and re-bed the joint, then finish the outside however you want. Re-torquing the keel bolts and covering the area with epoxy does not repair the two hairline fractures that you reference.
 

JamesG161

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Feb 14, 2014
7,815
Hunter 430 Waveland, MS
If you think that crack is the source of your bilge water, you should be able observe that, if you can see your keel boats from the inside.
A picture would help.;)
Jim...
 

SHW

.
Aug 19, 2016
3
Hunter 49 Pompano Beach
If you think that crack is the source of your bilge water, you should be able observe that, if you can see your keel boats from the inside.
A picture would help.;)
Jim...
Thanks, I'll take some pics today
 

SHW

.
Aug 19, 2016
3
Hunter 49 Pompano Beach
We did a keel stub repair on our boat in 2004. Dropped the keel, cleaned the joint, re-bed with 3M5200 and splashed. The joint seal has been solid ever since after cruising several thousand miles.

Something compromised the stub seal on your boat. You can try the steps you referenced, which may work. If it were mine I would lift the boat off of the keel, clean and re-bed the joint, then finish the outside however you want. Re-torquing the keel bolts and covering the area with epoxy does not repair the two hairline fractures that you reference.
Thanks, I think I'm going to drop the keel and rebed. The bummer is that the generator has to come out as well☹
 
Dec 25, 2000
5,945
Hunter Passage 42 Shelter Bay, WA
Thanks, I think I'm going to drop the keel and rebed. The bummer is that the generator has to come out as well☹
Our boat has the generator on a shelf above the main engine with open access to all the keel bolts. Please keep us posted on your repair.
 

JamesG161

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Feb 14, 2014
7,815
Hunter 430 Waveland, MS
Thanks, I think I'm going to drop the keel and rebed. The bummer is that the generator has to come out as well☹
Wow!:yikes:
I had a keel bolt "water spout" which I sealed from the inside 2.5 years ago. No flow, no movement of water, even if there is minor water between, until I take her to the hard dock in 3 years.
Jim...