Would these keelbolts worry you, 25 year old Hanse 401

[Thieba]

Hello,
I am the happy owner of a 2000 Hanse 401 based in France. I can tell you that these are very good boats. My father bought it in 2000, he sailed a lot in regattas and cruises including 2 Atlantic crossings. Since 2010 I have been the one taking care of the boat. I have in turn crossed the Atlantic 2 more times. I maintain it as best I can and I can tell you that my bottoms are clean but the keel bolts are not much prettier than in your photos. And yet with more than 24 years and 30,000 nautical miles they are holding up well.
The Hanse 401 is originally a Danish boat built by Bianca Boatyard from 1988 to 1993 The Bianca 420 was designed by the French architectural firm Joubert Nivelt It measured 12.75 m and had a draft of 2.15 m 34 units were built.
Yachtzentrum Greifswald on the German Baltic Sea bought the Bianca shipyard and asked the German architects Judel and Vrolijk to modernize the boat. They shortened it by 77 cm and designed a new keel with a lead bulb on an iron sail, which offers better stability despite a slightly lower draft. The increased stability was used to add 10 m² without increasing the size of the mast.
An important point to check: The chainplates that were on some undersized units no longer respecting the original specifications. An expertise is therefore necessary before purchase.

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by Thieba

German architects Judel and Vrolijk to modernize the boat. They shortened it by 77 cm and designed a new keel with a lead bulb on an iron sail

Assuming you mean an "iron keel" rather than an "iron sail" I wonder if it concerned Judel & Vrolijk that the galvanic potential of cast iron is about -0.70 volts while the galvanic potential of lead is about -0.20 volts

[SailingHarmonie]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

Assuming you mean an "iron keel" rather than an "iron sail" I wonder if it concerned Judel & Vrolijk that the galvanic potential of cast iron is about -0.70 volts while the galvanic potential of lead is about -0.20 volts

boatpoker,

I think you are missing some translation roughness there.

the reference is to a lead bulb attached to a ferrous foil. I am 99.9% sure that the foil discussed is NOT cast iron (which would be quite inappropriate), but some type of steel.

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by SailingHarmonie

boatpoker,

I think you are missing some translation roughness there.

the reference is to a lead bulb attached to a ferrous foil. I am 99.9% sure that the foil discussed is NOT cast iron (which would be quite inappropriate), but some type of steel.

Sorry, you said "iron" not "ferrous" and then you say some type of "steel". If you do mean "steel" the voltage potential difference is still problematic. If you actually mean ferrous I still find it problematic unless you are thinking of some grades of stainless steel which would be a horrible choice for keel material.

[barnakiel]

Steel is very unlikely. Keels were mostly cast iron or lead. Older Hanses did have lead. Newer boats often cast iron. You can tell them apart from their shape (or just scratch and see).


If I had one bolt like this I would scratch my head and say hey. But since there are very many of them I say remove (if removable) and check.


The hard part is that many lead keels had bolts set in during pouring. Cast iron keels tend to be easier as in a number of designs the bolts were just bolts - sitting in pockets. (Now with nuts up - these bolts are likely set in and the ballast is possibly lead.


Lack of backing plates no comment. Let us hope they are hidden inside the lamination.


Overall no big drama imho, neither a cause to celebrate.


If she were mine, I would test and if possible fix this. If she weren't I would not buy.



b.