Keel bolt leaking

[carlo de leo]

Hello everybody,

Greetings from Brazil!
My first thread. I've bought a 38' wooden fiber resin coated boat. It's a jewel made of mahogany. But after 20 years almost without use (and W/O owner), the wood between the mast (keel steped) and keel has rotted...nobody noticed that a keel bolt was leaking (the front one, almost underneath the mast). Fortunetely, the boat builder AT the time of conception was still avaiable and made the work. We had To pull the mast and keel.
The issue is that two bolts still leaked after reinstall the keel, he said the bolts in question he used as guides and the Sikaflex used may be already cured in Those two.
Ok, gave the chance and hauled the boat out again, retrieved the Two bolts, left dry for a day, retied with lots of sikaflex.
In water again, one bolt (the same that cause all the rotten wood before) leaked again.
What the F. Is happen??
The bolts has their nuts and washers soldered all together (not usual) The keel is iron. Keel and Hull were not very fit in the begining, so he made an adjustment with Epoxi in the hull. It has a centerboard, so water Goes throug keel and hull.
My guess: the surface of the keel is not enough adjusted.
Should I take the keel off again?
How This can be solved?
Tks a lot!

[Lepke]

The keel and hull need to fit tight before the sikaflex. The bottom of each bolt needs to be sealed. Maybe with a rubber washer or o-ring. The wood needs to be dry before the sikaflex. It may not stick to damp wood. I've never used it.

[carlo de leo]

Originally Posted by Lepke

The keel and hull need to fit tight before the sikaflex. The bottom of each bolt needs to be sealed. Maybe with a rubber washer or o-ring. The wood needs to be dry before the sikaflex. It may not stick to damp wood. I've never used it.

It was used a twine with Sika around the bolts as "o-rings"

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Carlo.