Sail Magine article on Keel Bolts

[Jim]

I wonder if anyone read if. The thing I found impressive is a a repair facility stated that the 5200 might be a better bond than the keel bolts.

It started me wondering how many older boats keels are held on by the 5200 alone because the keel bolts were badly corroded?

Remember all keel bolts leak. I make this statement because of the nature of permeability of material. All material leaks to some degree.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permeability_(earth_sciences)

 

[sailingdog]

Jim-

It really depends on what the keelbolts were made of, and how well sealed they were. I've seen 25-year-old keel bolts that looked brand new, and five-year-old keel bolts that were mostly gone... the difference is that one boat the keel was well seated and bedded with a bone-dry bilge, and on the other, the bilge was constantly wet, and the keel/hulll join bedding was done badly...and leaked.

 

[Jim]

Sailing dog, I agree 100%. The manufacturing process makes all the difference in the world! I am sure there are a lot of boats with keel botls in pretty good shape and a dry dry bilge.

I would think that there is some degree, even if it is very very small, of water migration into the keel bolts in even the best build boats over a period of years. Has to be because of the second law of phyics.

http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/GBSSCI/PHYS/CLASS/newtlaws/u2l3a.html

The caulk will break down, just like you and me, our homes, and everything else in the universe. The questions is how fast!
http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/GBSSCI/PHYS/CLASS/newtlaws/u2l3a.html

 

[Franklin]

you say "dry bildge". Doesn't it matter how the bildge got it's water? If it's condensation from inside the boat instead of leaking bolts, doesn't that make a difference?

My bildge is only dry during the winter as the summer it's filled daily with about 3-5 gallons of condensation from the AC. I do dry it out before offshore trips to make sure the bolts aren't leaking.

 

[bffatcat]

Leaking keel boats

Not all keel bolts leak. Case in Point. Ive got a 1975 pearson 26w cast Iron keel, galvanized
bolts. They do not leak never did. In the 9 seasons Ive owned the boat I have only had to
sponge some condensation out of the bilge never any salt water. Maybe im just lucky.

Every season after haul out I carefully check the integrity of the 5200 in joint between the keel
and hull. If there is anything loose I dig it out and apply fresh 5200. Not a big deal. So far so good.

 

[Jim]

Bffatcat, my friend at work told me he is going to do the samething, Dig out the outside 5200 around the seam and rebed it. I would think you'll have to remove the keel, dig it all out and rebed it to do it right. I guess if it works more power to you.

Frankllin, good luck with that. I would get the Mermaid Condensator tube thing. It sucks the water out of the boat with the raw cooling water.

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|6880|48359|328481&id=162519