My (1976) 30' Catalina has keelbolts - apparently made of steel - that were encased in some kind of epoxy. The epoxy has worn down and the nuts and bolts have started to rust. I've cleaned up and removed three of the eight nuts and found that the bolts under the nuts are seemingly in good shape. I've replaced the nuts with stainless steel ones. I've not had any water leak in, thus far. My questions are: 1. should I replace the steel nuts with steel nuts? or stainless steel nuts? 2. should I encase the whole assembly in epoxy as before? or cover with some sort of corrosion block? 3. Why o' why did Catalina put steel keelbolts in? with steel nuts? Has anyone else experienced this problem? I've been getting advice from local marine shops, but wonder if there isn't a load of info out there on this. According to expert in Seattle: The worst case scenario in terms of getting it fixed is apparently to put in a one or two new keel bolts - ignoring the existing ones - which involves hauling the boat out of the water, and drilling both sideways into the keel and downward from the bilge to attach new bolts. General advice I've been getting: This is a common thing in Catalina's of this vintage, and the keel is held on both by the bolts and the epoxy between the keel and the boat. The boat won't sink unless the bolts are significantly degraded and there is a shock to the keel. Any other thoughts on this?
- Status
rusty keel bolts
On the earlier models Catalina did use steel bolts,however,i would use steel nuts to replace the old ones because of the electrolosis thing of dissimillar metals.My 77 is the same way,i plan to work on mine this fall at haulout.Im going to replace the nuts and washers with steel and coat them with epoxy and see how it stands up,also i plan to drop my keel and rebed because my keel bolts are weeping water.
On the earlier models Catalina did use steel bolts,however,i would use steel nuts to replace the old ones because of the electrolosis thing of dissimillar metals.My 77 is the same way,i plan to work on mine this fall at haulout.Im going to replace the nuts and washers with steel and coat them with epoxy and see how it stands up,also i plan to drop my keel and rebed because my keel bolts are weeping water.
I "HAD" this problem....
I had the same problem, but my bolts were shot. I decided to go the expensive, time consuming,hair pulling route of replacing the whole keel. i also wanted a wing keel, so I used the rusted bolt thing to scare the hell out of my wife, so she would let me spend the money(my honey controls the money
). I have a web site im working on and will finish by next weekend, the shows the whole process of taking the keel down. Its at www.geocities.com/emofish1
I had the same problem, but my bolts were shot. I decided to go the expensive, time consuming,hair pulling route of replacing the whole keel. i also wanted a wing keel, so I used the rusted bolt thing to scare the hell out of my wife, so she would let me spend the money(my honey controls the money
). I have a web site im working on and will finish by next weekend, the shows the whole process of taking the keel down. Its at www.geocities.com/emofish1Scott Thanks
Scott: I read your www.geocities.com/emofish1 article. You are commended on a superb job of showing how to replace a Cat 27 keel. I for one, look at my 1976 Cat 27 bolts and wonder??????? Just seeing the picture of what deteriorated bolts look like helps me better understand where mine are in the scheme of things. Your presentation is super and should be looked at by all mid-size Cat owners....Good sailing...DAVE
Scott: I read your www.geocities.com/emofish1 article. You are commended on a superb job of showing how to replace a Cat 27 keel. I for one, look at my 1976 Cat 27 bolts and wonder??????? Just seeing the picture of what deteriorated bolts look like helps me better understand where mine are in the scheme of things. Your presentation is super and should be looked at by all mid-size Cat owners....Good sailing...DAVE
rusted keelbolts
After purchase I discovered very degraded stainless keelbolts in my 1976 Catalina 30. The treads and the nuts themselves were rusted to the point of breaking up.The local marine shop suggested instaling a new Keel assembly... at a price! The solution I arrived at: a)I sanded the bolts and nuts until the metal gleamed; b) I encasted them in very large steel nuts ( 2 inches diameter) which I used as a mold for marine epoxy and completly submurged the nuts and part of the bolts. c)On top of the large nuts I then bolted around the protubing bolts stainles wire clamps the now function as a second set of nuts. I feel quite safe with this arrangement and to verify that no rustiness had sneaked into the expoxy bulges after two years I unscrewed one of the large nuts ( I had waxed its lining before filling it with epoxy) and chiseled away the epoxy. I found both the nut and the submerged bolt a'gleaming!
After purchase I discovered very degraded stainless keelbolts in my 1976 Catalina 30. The treads and the nuts themselves were rusted to the point of breaking up.The local marine shop suggested instaling a new Keel assembly... at a price! The solution I arrived at: a)I sanded the bolts and nuts until the metal gleamed; b) I encasted them in very large steel nuts ( 2 inches diameter) which I used as a mold for marine epoxy and completly submurged the nuts and part of the bolts. c)On top of the large nuts I then bolted around the protubing bolts stainles wire clamps the now function as a second set of nuts. I feel quite safe with this arrangement and to verify that no rustiness had sneaked into the expoxy bulges after two years I unscrewed one of the large nuts ( I had waxed its lining before filling it with epoxy) and chiseled away the epoxy. I found both the nut and the submerged bolt a'gleaming!
- Status