Keel Bolt Maintenance

[sol y mar]

I am ready to check the keel bolt tightness, and torque if necessary on my 1988 C30. Question is, what should they be torqued at.
In reading posts on the C34 sight, it was recommended to torque at 105 - 107 ft lbs. In the "Collection Book" for C30 yachts, under the section Keel Bolt Maintenance, it states the torque should be 50 to 60 foot pounds for 27, 30, 34,36, and C38 fleet models. Quite a difference! Anyone know which is correct?

 

[Dean5735]

a drop of epoxy

On my 85 the keel bolts have a couple drops of epoxy dripped on the bolt/nut. They are clean and the epoxy "seal" is not broken so I assume they are still tight. The only thing would be, if they are loosening inside the keel itself. There is no Catalina smile re-appearing since 2001 when I re-did the bottom. I would think you would have to tighten them while on the hard, with upward pressure on the keel, obvoiusly you could never lift the keel with a torque wrench.

Let us know what you find. Dean

 

[sol y mar]

Re: a drop of epoxy

Dean
Great idea regarding the drop of epoxy. The boat is on the hard now, and next week I will put the torque wrench on and start at 50 ft lbs and work up in increments so I can tell where they are at currently. My guess is that 100 - 120ft lbs would be close. I have emailed Catalina, but as of yet, no reply. I will let you know
Hank

 

[Dean5735]

I am sure the epoxy is origial from the factory, not my idea. If yours has none, either it has broken off due to movement or the factory quit doing it.

These are guesses on my part though.

Dean

 

[Steelshooter]

For whatever it's worth I contacted Catalina about the torque specs for the keel bolts on my 77 C-30. They emailed me back and stated that it was 105 ft/lbs. Hope that helps some.

 

[Maine Sail]

For whatever it's worth I contacted Catalina about the torque specs for the keel bolts on my 77 C-30. They emailed me back and stated that it was 105 ft/lbs. Hope that helps some.

Before you tighten these I would consider doing a keel stub core sample. The keel root/stub on the C-30 through about late 1987 to 1988 had plywood laminated into them. Mine had nearly two inches of plywood that had rotted due to leaks. Later ones are reported to have two layers of 3/4" ply for a thickness of 1.5". If your keel stub wood is wet tightening the bolts can cause the wood to compress and the glass around the washer to spider crack this movement can cause the sealant to fail even more.

To test a core sample simply drill into the stub from the bilge, but make sure it's dry. This is how you will asses the moisture or lack there of. If the core is dry go ahead and tighten the bolts to 105 and then fill the core sample holes with epoxy.

Coating the nuts and bolts with epoxy is not the best idea and this was not something done by the factory, at least on purpose. Stainless needs to be exposed oxygen to "heal" itself and not suffer from crevice corrosion. If bilge water were to get under the epoxy you could speed the crevice corrosion. The same thing will happen if your keel to hull joint is leaking and there is trapped deoxygenated water around the keel bolts in the wood core of the keel stub..

 

[sol y mar]

Heading to the boat tomorrow. I will do a core sample before I check the torque currently on the bolts. Boat has been inside and on a cradle for a year. Should be dry enough to drill into the keel stub. I'll report back on the results.

 

[Maine Sail]

Heading to the boat tomorrow. I will do a core sample before I check the torque currently on the bolts. Boat has been inside and on a cradle for a year. Should be dry enough to drill into the keel stub. I'll report back on the results.

Just don't drill to far. Enough to get some wood out is all you need..

 

[sol y mar]

Thanks
I'll get some pictures this morning

 

[Dean5735]

My bolts only have about 2 drops of epoxy on each one, NOT covered.

 

[sol y mar]

Finally checked keel bolt with a torque wrench. Core sample was dry and good wood. Set torque wrench at 105ft lbs, and all bolts were at least that. Another item to check off the list.