Keel bolts weeping

[KennyH]

I have a small weeping going on around one keel bolt. Just a tiny amount of water develops over a week or so. Should I try to address this problem is some way?It is a fairly new boat which I purchased at the end of last year. My first thought has been to monitor the weeping to see if it is worst in bad weather when the boat gets bounced around in the slip etc. Over the winter it seem to not weep at all. I have just cleaned the bilge and over a week I noticed about 1/2 oz on water. Thanks for any suggestions. It is the shoal draft version drawing 2'11". 1981 model.

 

[Jim]

Weeping Bolt

I would think you have some crack or other at your keel/hull joint and possibly some water intrusion into the glass. Half ounce of water in the bilge could have come from a lot of places other than a keel bolt, like a rain storm. What has you convinced that you have intrusion from around a bolt? Regards, Jim

 

[KennyH]

No water except around bolt

I cannot find moisture anywhere except around one bolt. I need more time to monitor this so I will post in one more week to see how it is doing. We have had lots of rain so it is possible it is from somewhere else in the boat. Thanks for the reply.

 

[Jim]

Bildge water

The reason I question your analysis is because the amount of water is so small. Did you taste it? Are you sure it's salt water? Regards, Jim.

 

[KennyH]

Our water is fresh

Our water is fresh so tasting it would not tell me much. It does appear to be running from another spot in the boat. It was completely dry after the last 4 days. Then I washed the boat and it reappeared. I don't believe it is a weeping keel bolt anymore. I have to find the leak now. Around the tiller shaft I believe. Thanks for you time Jim and you where right on. Keep it up!