Rusty Keel Bolts

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Bruce

Have any of you had rusty keel bolts in the bilge. If so what have you done to correct this? Thanks for your advice.
 
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Steve Dion

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Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
What boat are we talking about here!

Bruce: What boat are we talking about here. Hunter, Catalina, Bene?
 
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Steve Dion

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Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Interesting!

Bruce: This is a common problem on Catalinas. Have not hear too much about rusty keel bolts on Hunters. I would do some searching on the internet for a cure to this problem. Obviously you need to keep the bilge as dry as possible. I must assume that you are in salt water. I would try to clean it up and spray with some anti-corrosive sprays. I think that you need to be sure that you are getting pleanty of fresh air to the bolts. This may be something to have a yard look at and see if they have any recommendations. If you do not have a shaft seal you may want to consider this to help prevent from getting seawater into the bilge. I do not think that you will find too much on this problem in the archives but you should search anyway.
 
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Tim Leighton

WATCH THEM LIKE A HAWK!

Bruce: If your keel bolts are truly rusting, you are likely to have a MAJOR problem there. You really don't want to loose the keel while sailing! I remember seeing a film of the ocean racing yacht DRUM (Bon Jove's boat) just before the Whitbread race in 85 loose the rudder. Within 30 seconds, the boat was upside down! If the rust is just on the surface, then Steve's advice to clean, use an anti-corrosive spray and keep the bilge area as dry as possible should work. If the rust is further along, it is likely you'll have to drop the keel and have the bolts replaced. Not a cheap process (a friend did it a number of years ago and even then it cost him over $2,000) but one which may be absolutely necessary. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news like this, but better now than later... Have your local yard check the bolts for you. It will be money well spent, if for nothing else than peace of mind. The good news is that your insurance may pay for the repair. Call your provider and see... Good luck. I'd love to see some photos here of your bolts. Tim Leighton
 
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