Keel Bolt Advice

[Drew13440]

So, I went to see a mid 1980s Pearson for sale. For the most part well kept and loved.

What's concerning is the bilge. It was wet and a few of the bolts are clearly rusting. What is it going to take to make this right?

[Orion Jim]

You must find out where the "wet" is coming from. Is the keel and hull mating surface intact? If not then the keel must be dropped or removed so the mating surfaces can be cleaned and resealed. Have the keel bolts been re-torqued lately? It certainly doesn't look that way.

[Suijin]

Those are at the tail of the keel, in what I suspect is the deepest part of the bilge (ergo the pump). Can be difficult to keep dry with water coming down the mast or whatever. The question I would have is what do the rest of the bolts looks like, and is water coming in through the bolts? If the rest of the bolts look similar and there is water coming in through the bedding then I would either walk away or be prepared to drop the keel for new bolts.

If the rest looks good and this is just the sump I'd probably overlook it...if I knew where the water was coming from and it was not a concern.

[Drew13440]

Originally Posted by Suijin

Those are at the tail of the keel, in what I suspect is the deepest part of the bilge (ergo the pump). Can be difficult to keep dry with water coming down the mast or whatever. The question I would have is what do the rest of the bolts looks like, and is water coming in through the bolts? If the rest of the bolts look similar and there is water coming in through the bedding then I would either walk away or be prepared to drop the keel for new bolts.

If the rest looks good and this is just the sump I'd probably overlook it...if I knew where the water was coming from and it was not a concern.

You are exactly right, these are to the rear. I did not photograph the forward bolts, which looked very good, although also wet. I didn't bother to taste the bilge water as the boat wintered in a slip on an upper Chesapeake tributary - not saline at the surface - and hasn't been sailed yet this spring.

The engine and its compartment were both immaculate. I put my hand on the stone cold Yanmar block before she fired up, immediately. No smoke whatsoever and plenty of coolant spitting out back. That's encouraging.

A good surveyor will be involved if this moves forward, but you guys are a great sounding board and I appreciate the response.

[Drew13440]

All right, I'm trying to avoid the situation the other running keel bolt poster is faced with. Any more opinions on this prospect?

[a64pilot]

I’d say if it took 30+ yrs to look like it does, then you have another 20 before you get real concerned.
However I am no surveyor, nor naval architect.
30+ yr old boats will have issues, your job and your surveyors job is to find them.
Do not scrimp on the surveyor, good ones cost more, but may save your financial life. Be there for the survey, take him or her to lunch, be a nice guy, befriend them, help with any physical work, and ask a LOT of questions.
This is your chance to learn the boat inside and out from a professional, don’t waste the opportunity.

If you buy her, buy her a better pump and switch