Guidance for a 1970 Columbia 26 MK2

[Seatrail]

Hello,

Can't seem to find any information when I do a quick search.

Recently bought a 1970 Columbia 26 Mk2 and I noticed the keel bolts are rusted. I am hoping to replace them but can find little to no information specific to the boat.

I hope to either get someone to do it (someone said it was costly but then didn't give a price) or maybe DIY though I am handy but not handy all at the same time.

Appreciate any thoughts or guidance,

Cheers

Apologise if this topic has been covered somewhere before

[capt jgw]

A few years ago I dropped the keel on my 1969 Columbia 36. I don't know if it was built the same as the 26. On the 36 the keel is lead, but a harder alloy that allowed using 3/4" galvanized hanger bolts (wood screw thread on one end, machine screw on the other) instead of the "J" bolts usually used with lead. Since they are cast into the lead, J bolts are not replaceable. The nuts and bolt tops visible in the bilge were rusty and rusty water dripped out of the hull/keel joint on haul out. This indicates the sealant had failed and the bolts were likely in worse condition down in the fiberglass where you can't see them. When I removed the nuts one of the bolts broke off proving this to be true. After removing the nuts I built a wood 4x4 frame around the keel to prevent it falling over. The travel lift then returned and lifted the hull off the keel. I replaced all the remaining bolts with 316 stainless and "sistered" the broken one by drilling a new bolt hole next to it. (I couldn't get the old broken piece out of the original hole.) With the mating surfaces cleaned and new bolts in place I smeared on a thick layer of 3M 5200 and had the hull lifted back onto the keel. Not too bad a job and total cost to me was only about $500 as I did all the work myself except the lifting.