Keel bolts

[Doug T.]

We recently purchased a 1977 Hunter 27. I thoroughly mopped up all the water in the bilge, and then watched as drops of water slowly wept around the ends of three of the keel bolts. The total amount can't be more than one pint month, yet I'm concerned that it might increase over time or that it might indicate more serious problems with the keel and/or bolts.Any suggestions?

 

[David Foster]

Mine too

Ours always developed a little water in the bilge at about the rate you describe. Never saw any seepage from the bolts after drying the bilge, though. After a grounding on a rock this summer (no structureal damage) I had the bottom around the keel resurfaced, and the bolts tightened. The seepage is either much slowed or stopped. (I have some other slow leaks.) A search of the archives convinced me that a dry bilge is the right answer, but a getting there is the result of many projects to find and fix each source.I don't believe a little water is a serious problem for the bolts. (Especially the fresh water in Lake Erie.) Signs of rust, corrosion, or cracks _are_ serious.By the way, when doing the work on our keel joint, the boat yard manager said that the grid, fiberglass lay-up, and number of bolts were all twice what he would expect in a more modern boat - very robust.DavidLady Lilliealso a '77 h27