Keel Bolts, not nuts.

[TreblePlink]

I am trying to figure out exactly what is inside my lead keel. It has 2 rows x 4 , 3/4" bolts. 4 are SS and 4 appear to be bronze.

I can understand j or l bolts being there during the lead pour, with threads sticking up, and torquing the keel NUTS. But when keel bolts are used, what do they thread into? Seems like lead would be too soft to hold threads. Are there some kind of threaded inserts?

I re-torqued all of them to 150 to 170 foot-pounds, and the two port forward bolts turned about half a turn, the others much less.

The boat is a 69 Rhodes Venture, 28 feet, with swing keel. I don't have good details on the design other than it being very much like a Rhodes Ranger.

So, what do the bolts thread into? Are they some special coarse thread?

[chris95040]

First off, Mystic Seaport in Connecticut has most of Phil Rhodes' designs on file, you can call them up and order a copy of the plans for your boat.

My Rhodes Reliant has lead ballast and 3/4" bronze bolts. The holes for the bolts go clean through the ballast from top to bottom, with the bottom countersunk to fit a washer and nut. So there's a washer and nut in the bilge up top, and another washer and nut at the bottom.

Those holes at the bottom of the keel were full of some hard masonry shmutz as fairing, this needed to be picked and chipped out to expose the nut.

I think its possible the bottom of your keel is like mine, with a countersunk hole where you'll find a nut and a washer.

[TreblePlink]

I tried Mystic. First via email, then by phone. She said she was really backed up, and I haven't heard back from her.

[chris95040]

Originally Posted by TreblePlink

I tried Mystic. First via email, then by phone. She said she was really backed up, and I haven't heard back from her.

I had the exact experience years ago, she was clearly annoyed i was bothering her. After continuing to bother her I finally got the goods.

[TreblePlink]

You would think that at $40 per page, Mystic would be eager to sell you the information.


It does sound like maybe there are embedded nuts in the bottom of the lead. I guess the long holes were part of the mold?

I'd like to find someone familiar with a Rhodes Ranger.

[chris95040]

Originally Posted by TreblePlink

You would think that at $40 per page, Mystic would be eager to sell you the information.

Agreed, I was pretty taken aback by the attitude of whoever I was speaking with over there. But all was forgiven when I got those giant, crystal clear plans of a design from the early 60s...

It does sound like maybe there are embedded nuts in the bottom of the lead. I guess the long holes were part of the mold?

I'd like to find someone familiar with a Rhodes Ranger.

Agreed - I was flabbergasted by the attitude of whomever I was speaking with. But all was forgiven when I received those giant, crystal clear prints of plans from the early 60s...

I imagine the holes were just drilled with a countersink bored out in the bottom, but I honestly have no idea. Do you know who built the Ranger?

[TreblePlink]

No, but evidently it was built in larger numbers than my "Venture."

[chris95040]

RHODES RANGER 29 sailboat specifications and details on sailboatdata.com

Interesting notes:

Builder: de Visser (Holland)

Design #437
Ballast: Iron(1900lbs) or opt. lead(2750lbs)
Inboard optional.
Imported to US by Seafarer Fiberglass Yachts.
Another version in the UK known as the SANTANDER 28.

[TreblePlink]

Originally Posted by chris95040

RHODES RANGER 29 sailboat specifications and details on sailboatdata.com
[...]

That's the Ranger. Best I can tell, it's identical except my "Venture" has:

1. A skeg hung rudder.

2. A swing keel.

Unfortunately, the information I really want is keel detail.

[chris95040]

Originally Posted by TreblePlink

That's the Ranger. Best I can tell, it's identical except my "Venture" has:

1. A skeg hung rudder.

2. A swing keel.

Unfortunately, the information I really want is keel detail.

Oh right, confused venture vs ranger, sorry about that.

Maybe PM the author of this post over on sailnet, looks like they were looking for similar info?

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/rhodes.../topics/200682

Also the owner of this site owns a sistership of my Reliant, hes a huge Rhodes fan and may have info if you reach out to him:

https://astro.temple.edu/~bstavis/pr/783-charisma.htm

And finally, getting on your back and clearing the bottom of your keel of paint would reveal if there are faired holes hiding down there.

[TreblePlink]

Originally Posted by chris95040

Also the owner of this site owns a sistership of my Reliant, hes a huge Rhodes fan and may have info if you reach out to him:

https://astro.temple.edu/~bstavis/pr/783-charisma.htm

And finally, getting on your back and clearing the bottom of your keel of paint would reveal if there are faired holes hiding down there.

The boat shown in the above link - Charisma - is my actual boat. That's the only reference I've found.

Charisma is on the trailer next to my house - currently undergoing restoration. The bottom of the keel sits on a solid support, pretty much cutting off access. I'm going to run a bore scope camera down the swing keel cable tube ...

[TreblePlink]

Originally Posted by chris95040

Maybe PM the author of this post over on sailnet, looks like they were looking for similar info?

Rhodes Venture 28 - SailNet Community

He sold me the boat ...

[chris95040]

LOL

Well since I can't be of any real help, I'll at least say she's a beautiful boat.

I'm sure you could come up with a way to get access to the underside of the keel though. I imagine you'd just need access to a few feet, lengthwise, to go hunting for faired holes.

[Jim Cate]

i'm having a hard time visualizing this setup! With a swing keel, where are the keel bolts that you are describing? I thought swing keels, well. swung...and thus were suspended from a pivot axle, not bolts through the hull.

Jim

[chris95040]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

i'm having a hard time visualizing this setup! With a swing keel, where are the keel bolts that you are describing? I thought swing keels, well. swung...and thus were suspended from a pivot axle, not bolts through the hull.

Jim

I got that mixed up too, but even so, the OP isn't talking about the swinging half of his keel. They are talking about the lead (per the linked diagram) base of the keel which has a series of bolt heads visible in the bilge. Has to be attached somehow, yeah?

https://astro.temple.edu/~bstavis/pr...drawings-s.jpg