Keel Bolts 432 Moorings

[sushiloco]

I'm trying to find out about keel bolts for a 1988 432 Moorings boat.
I bought this boat after looking at my survey. It was noted that the keel bolts had rust on them. After looking on the internet it seemed like this was a normal thing and not something to worry about. So I bought the boat.

Now that I own the boat, I have looked at the bolts and it's not good.
2 of the bolts have lost the top of the bolt. It's a perfect bolt top after pushing hard with my finger. It just fell off. I was planing to just twisting them off and puting a new bolt in. That's what I thought would happen.

Now I'm not sure what to do?

Has anyone drilled and extracted the bolt in the water? Is this a bad idea?
Should I just pull the boat out and do it on the hard?
I have tried to contact Beneteau but, no one has responded.
I want to buy new bolt's but not getting anywhere with with the Beneteau web site.
Don't feel like I can order and get the right part.
If you have any history of what to do? Or who I can contact?
You would be my best friend!
Thanks
Tom

 

[Captn TJ]

Tom

Sounds like you've got quite a project ahead of you. A couple of thoughts - I would try the Beneteau parts site and as a back-up calling Ward at the Marion plant. If you're going to change two would would go the full Monty and change all of them. Lastly I would do it on the hard since this is probably a very involved job with the potential for a lot to go wrong.

 

[CHM]

I have the same boat and the same concerns about the keel bolts. I purchased a new set from Beneteau and have yet to attempt to change them. If you sheared off bolt heads, you will likely have to haul the boat and drop the keel to have the job completed. Let us knnnow how it goes.

 

[sushiloco]

bolts

I have the same boat and the same concerns about the keel bolts. I purchased a new set from Beneteau and have yet to attempt to change them. If you sheared off bolt heads, you will likely have to haul the boat and drop the keel to have the job completed. Let us knnnow how it goes.

I just ordered new bolts and keel plate. I will let you know what happens next.
I'm going to pull it out and change everything out. I know if you still have the bolts some what and can pull them. You can do it in the water.

 

[ph034495]

sorry think i posted on wrong thread.. Same problem on '95 42s7
welded large nuts on the inside to mine, pulled the first one and had it sized. Mine was metric took couple weeks to get replacements, changed one at a time in the water.
pics enclosed ..project wasn't nearly as bad as i thought it would be.
don

 

[sushiloco]

Keel bolts 432

I just got my bolts and washers from Beneteau.
One Question? They sent me a Plate keel bolt backing.
It's a square washer with a little tab on it with a hole in the tab too.
It was $267 for it and it's just a washer with a tab. Looks like it stainless. Can you put in a galv. bolt thru it and not have corrosion?
Is it for using for grounding the keel? I am going to the boat this week-end to try and figure it out. The bolts were 30mm and dipped galv. the washer just looked like they were electro plated? They also sent me one small bolt and a stainless steel washer. The bolt was galv.
so I'm not sure why?
Is it a good idea to bed the washers and bolts in some sort of caulking sealer?
Any info will help. New to sailboating. On boats I've had you would not mix stainless with galv. steel. Don't know what you need for the keel to keep it happy.:dance:
Thanks
Tom

 

[Captn TJ]

Probably for the ground strap.