Keel bolt inspection help

[FishCake]

Hello everyone. I recently bought a 31 foot sloop. Alo 96 made in 1983 in Norway. When I got her onto the hard I noticed that there were a few slight streaks of rust coming down the keel. The seal between the keel and the hull was also broken.

I am trying to inspect the keel bolts doing one thing at a time. I've seen a few different types of designs on the internet for how these bolts are secured.

I'm busy looking at the bolts and they don't look too bad. The washers are pretty rusted but still look kinda okay.

What should my next steps be? this is my first boat.

[malbert73]

Lead keel or cast iron?

If lead, and there is rust, it must be from the bolts. And, since bolts generally are cast into lead, not threaded- no way to inspect properly without dropping the keel

[FishCake]

Sorry, I should have put that in here. It is a lead keel.

Is there a way to drop the keel without demasting?

[malbert73]

Originally Posted by FishCake

Sorry, I should have put that in here. It is a lead keel.

Is there a way to drop the keel without demasting?

Should be doable unless the mast step is blocking keel bolt access. Keel stepped doesn’t mean the mast sits on the lead ballast- just that it sits on the keel/backbone of the boat.

Bear in mind - this is a big task and it is the “proper repair” but if your plan is inshore/coastal cruising and there are enough other keel bolts that aren’t rusting, you could simply try torquing all of the keelbolts to proper specs, seal the crack, and go sailing at minimal (but not 0%) risk of the keel falling off

[Fintry]

An experienced surveyor can sometimes get a good idea of the condition of keel bolts by tapping on them. Otherwise, the only way to check them is to put the boat in a sling lift, with the keel hard on the ground. Block the keel so it can't fall sideways or forward, remove the nuts, and then hoist the boat.



If you do a good job of blocking, so the boat can go right back down on the keel, this can be done quickly. You'll want a big socket wrench with a long handle or a pneumatic driver -- the nuts and bolts have likely become good friends.


Jim

[bil56]

where is the nut ?
the threaded rod appears to be in good condition and probably in SS ?...
even the seal seems not too bad

[chris95040]

Originally Posted by FishCake

Sorry, I should have put that in here. It is a lead keel.

Is there a way to drop the keel without demasting?

I suspect no sane yard would let you leave a rig up without the counterweight of the keel attached.

And if you are gun-shy about the cost of dropping your mast, you may be in for some sticker shock w/ this repair.