Keel bolt replacement

[John Gajdos]

When I had the boat surveyed prior to purchase in May 2000,(a 1975 Catalina 30 standard rig, hull #75). The sureyor said I should replace the keel bolts. She shows a little of the "Catalina Smile." I've wire brushed the studs and chased to threads to the existing nuts with a stainless steel nut. Then it dawned on me that I should check for proper replacement nut material. Stainless? wrought iron? steel? brass or bronze? Anyone with an older Catalina 30 tackle this job?

 

[Peter Hine]

On a 75 bolts are mild steel

On a Cat 30 built before 1978, the keel bolts are mild carbon steel, I believe. I've got a '74 27, and in "78 Catalina changed from mild steel to stainless bolts. I'm sure 30s before '78 are the same. On 27s. the recommended fix, if the bolts themselves are good (most are), is to replace the mild steel nuts with stainless, with big backing washers. Be sure to check, however, that the wood under the old nuts is still good, not rotten. If some of the bolts are bad, you can install new "sister" bolts next to the old, but that is a whole other topic! Catalina Yachts has a lot of info on improving keel bolts. Conact them!! Good luck!!

 

[Dennis]

I had to replace only one bolt. It was completly gone, of course it was the one under the engine. The only way I could get to it was to remove the engine. It wasn't that bad and installing the bolt was easy. I used a stainless steel bolt.