The old thread is too old to continue so here is a new one.

Lift out tomorrow for keel bolt replacement.

Yep big issue for people.

Do I presently have a problem - not that I know of but can't know for sure.

Yes many have been replaced but I did not replace them.

Six years ago we began pulling keel off but were happy with what we saw, but it is now 6 years later.

There is no keel movement or join cracking.

there have been groundings.

The boat has a very long keel/hull attachment surface which could be disguising an issue.

So as they say, news at eleven!

Besides, my last SSSC renewal was harder than I wanted when it came to the water exercises.

Way back when - 80ish, Treharnes boatshed at Manly pulled the keel off and re did the bolts. We have a small lead paperweight from the front of the flange.

I don't know of any groundings from my period sailing Defiance.

Select to expand quote

lydia said..
The old thread is too old to continue so here is a new one.

Lift out tomorrow for keel bolt replacement.

Yep big issue for people.

Do I presently have a problem - not that I know of but can't know for sure.

Yes many have been replaced but I did not replace them.

Six years ago we began pulling keel off but were happy with what we saw, but it is now 6 years later.

There is no keel movement or join cracking.

there have been groundings.

The boat has a very long keel/hull attachment surface which could be disguising an issue.

So as they say, news at eleven!

Besides, my last SSSC renewal was harder than I wanted when it came to the water exercises.

Wow you are conscientious pulling it off only six years after last inspecting it or did you not pull it all the way off to look at the entirety of the bolts?

Meanwhile please let us know the result with pictures.

What bonding or filling agent are you going to use when the keel goes back on?

Assume this is part of the assumed "under contract" agreement with the current sale?

Select to expand quote

r13 said..
Assume this is part of the assumed "under contract" agreement with the current sale?

No, no contract, just the right thing to do, besides the pool exercises at the last SSSC seemed harder than they should be.

Select to expand quote

julesmoto said..

lydia said..
The old thread is too old to continue so here is a new one.

Lift out tomorrow for keel bolt replacement.

Yep big issue for people.

Do I presently have a problem - not that I know of but can't know for sure.

Yes many have been replaced but I did not replace them.

Six years ago we began pulling keel off but were happy with what we saw, but it is now 6 years later.

There is no keel movement or join cracking.

there have been groundings.

The boat has a very long keel/hull attachment surface which could be disguising an issue.

So as they say, news at eleven!

Besides, my last SSSC renewal was harder than I wanted when it came to the water exercises.

Wow you are conscientious pulling it off only six years after last inspecting it or did you not pull it all the way off to look at the entirety of the bolts?

Meanwhile please let us know the result with pictures.

What bonding or filling agent are you going to use when the keel goes back on?

We did not pull the keel fully off during the renovation.

A lot of people are going to be **** scared after this.

But it was easy to do.

Prep of keel join.

Got to love S&S engineering as the keel hull surface extends far beyond edge of fin.

Getting there!

All off!

So three single bronze threads and two pairs of bronze threads in centre. (Originals 1972)

Single Stainless steel threads at each extreme end of keel. (Date unknown but likely 1990s)

No moisture on holes save for very little in extremities.



Bronze, no pitting and only a little leaching

Stainless, broke off in my hand.

I will post more later.

So my take is that keel would not come off but if a hard grounding damage to extremities would mean serious leaking.

Now how many of you have all Stainless steel bolts , some of questionable quality.

I intend to do bronze with the new threads.
L

Great post L and should silence a few of the doubters.

Select to expand quote

lydia said..

r13 said..
Assume this is part of the assumed "under contract" agreement with the current sale?

No, no contract, just the right thing to do, besides the pool exercises at the last SSSC seemed harder than they should be.

so 3m 5200?

Got to love bronze. I salvaged a bronze barometer after 100+ years immersion, and a little bronze screw turned in the thread using just my fingers!

Once you've seen the close-up of the bolts, you start to put words into the mouths of the guys in the photograph.....

Looking like the end bolts were not on the original S&S plans but added a few year latter after a keel modification.

So don't **** with greatness.

Absolute brilliant work from the guys from R & M Marine at Kettering.
I have worked with them before on a bigger project.

Last one is broken off bolt from front edge

Select to expand quote

lydia said..
The old thread is too old to continue so here is a new one.

Lift out tomorrow for keel bolt replacement.

Yep big issue for people.

Do I presently have a problem - not that I know of but can't know for sure.

Yes many have been replaced but I did not replace them.

Six years ago we began pulling keel off but were happy with what we saw, but it is now 6 years later.

There is no keel movement or join cracking.

there have been groundings.

The boat has a very long keel/hull attachment surface which could be disguising an issue.

So as they say, news at eleven!

Besides, my last SSSC renewal was harder than I wanted when it came to the water exercises.

That should be no groundings

Select to expand quote

JonE said..
Once you've seen the close-up of the bolts, you start to put words into the mouths of the guys in the photograph.....

If you have a boat with stainless steel keel bolts where the keel have not been dropped off in the last 15 years you might want to increase your swimming training
my 20 cents

I should say we intend to drop out the bronze thread to check as well. L

So i hope this thread encourages people to make the leap and drop their keel off.

Once it is done, at least you know.

l

Oh,and the boat would have passed the Australian Sailing Keel Inspection as it was.

Bring on Hobart!

Top view during renovation - front bolt is the broken one now

I should say, some of you will have cast iron keels so the bolts are just threaded in. And so very easy to replace.

Others will have a plate in the keel which again bolts justly screw into.

The difficult ones are were there is a cage moulded into the lead.

So we are about to find that out this morning.

I should say, it took less than 2 hours to remove the keel, so not a big deal.

Select to expand quote

r13 said..

lydia said..

r13 said..
Assume this is part of the assumed "under contract" agreement with the current sale?

No, no contract, just the right thing to do, besides the pool exercises at the last SSSC seemed harder than they should be.

so 3m 5200?

Not sure yet, as I don't think we need to account for very much movement and certainly 5200 did not exist in 1972.

Luckily I am in contact with one of the original builders, so he might have a view.

Thanks for very interesting thread. Per what Lydia said about the stainless bolts. I stubbed my toe on a roughly 2" sized 3/8" thick U fitting on my deck. And it looked OK and sturdy. But it broke off easily. So now I now S/S fittings have a finite life.

Here are the Stainless bolts holding the chain plates in when removed in renovation.

Notice the heads often looked fine but many broke in removal.

Interesting stuff. Thanks for taking the time to post.
It will be interesting to see what was used originally. Some sort of felt and tar back in the old days. By the 70's maybe something else?
Then you have to decide if you want to do it originally or if modern products are better for the job.

Bitumen maybe? What was on there?

Thanks Lydia, how good is it to see real world examples.

Red lead and grease helps. This one was very old not sure how old. We put a new nut on it about 10 years ago. Still looked brand new when we removed it.
You can see the colour difference between 2 bolts. Many different types of bronze. The one on the right is older. Definitely over 20 years, possibly much older.
So yes I am more for bronze.

Almost 500 views in 24 hours so at least people are curious!