Can anyone advise me of the structure holding the keelbolts for a 27 (1973, Sail no. 1503, old style traditional, lead ballasted fin keel for 4 ft draft)? I have to replace the keelbolts in my 27 as the heads and shafts have corroded badly after 35 years and thread/shaft dressings and nut/washer replacements at years 15 and 26. Before I drill and sister in new keelbolts (Catalina Direct retrofit replacement keelbolt kit)it would be useful to know whether the old style(iron)bolts can just be drilled out and replaced with one size larger or if the way they were installed into the lead keel (anchored fit in casting, bent "L" style, nut on bottom style in a casted pocket, etc.) makes this impossible. It would only be feasible to drill then out if they are straight shafted and threaded/glued into the keel lead (even if they pass through a support metal plate). Fair winds --
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GO FOR IT
BUY THE KIT FROM CAT DIRECT AND DRILL AND TAP YOUR OWN HOLES.KEEP OLD BOLTS IN PLACE. KEEP JACK UNDER KEEL UP TIGHT UNTIL YOUR NEW EPOXYED BOLTS SET UP.ALSO YOU CAN USE FIBER MATTING AND RESIN, TO GLASS THE OLD STUBS TO BASE OF BILGE.USE BOTH AND KEEL IS GOING NO WHERE. GG
BUY THE KIT FROM CAT DIRECT AND DRILL AND TAP YOUR OWN HOLES.KEEP OLD BOLTS IN PLACE. KEEP JACK UNDER KEEL UP TIGHT UNTIL YOUR NEW EPOXYED BOLTS SET UP.ALSO YOU CAN USE FIBER MATTING AND RESIN, TO GLASS THE OLD STUBS TO BASE OF BILGE.USE BOTH AND KEEL IS GOING NO WHERE. GG
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