Would these keelbolts worry you, 25 year old Hanse 401

[Skagerak]

I am looking at buying a Hanse 401, built in 1999.

I took some pictures on the keel bolts. Would the look on these bolts make you worry that there could be any problems with the keel or the bolts?

In the pictures 1000009786.jpg and 1000009785.jpg are the foremost bolts, and 1000009776.jpg and 1000009775.jpg the aftmost bolts.

[sailorboy1]

Hell yeah that would concern me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[S/V Illusion]

Certainly appear from the pictures to be severely eroded. No telling what you CAN’T see but hard to imagine the unexposed parts are better.

[HeinSdL]

Depends on the overall state of the boat plus.... the price. But yeah, compared to the keelbolts on my boat from 2002, that looks pretty shabby.

[Opie91]

Those look like they are covered in some type of gelcoat/epoxy. Clean all of whatever is on them off and take a look. Likely it is going to look a lot better than what you are seeing.

[Kello]

What you see of the bolts in the bilge is (basically) irrelevant to the actual condition of the bolts. Keel bolts are a maintenance item, just like most everything on a boat, and good manufacturers design their keels to (relatively) easily renew the keel bolts. Given the age of the boat, regardless of the bolt type (stainless, galvanized, something else) if you like the boat then plan on dropping the keel and renewing the bolts. Do some research first about renewing bolts for THAT keel.

[gonesail]

find a boat with an encapsulated keel

[Bowdrie]

Originally Posted by Skagerak

Would the look on these bolts make you worry that there could be any problems with the keel or the bolts?

Bolts? What bolts.
Half the bolts appear to have little to no threads.
The nuts appear to almost non-existent, are there even any washers/heavy backing plates?

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by Bowdrie

Bolts? What bolts.
Half the bolts appear to have little to no threads.
The nuts appear to almost non-existent, are there even any washers/heavy backing plates?

Agreed ... the lack of backing plates is beyond stupid.

[Fore and Aft]

Skagerak I would not be stressing about those keel bolts until you get the full story. Opie91 has the right idea about them being covered with white flow coat. You need to get a cordless drill with a wire wheel and clean the bolts and backing plates first so you can see their condition. There looks like backing plates, but they are buried under the flow coat. Just as important is that none of the surrounding fiberglass looks cracked. I am betting with a good clean they don't look that bad. The bilge actually looks pretty clean when it comes to water staining. So I doubt they have been wet for long periods.
Cheers

[JPA Cate]

It just may be a quirk of the picture itself [#3 of 12], but I feel uncomfortable with the way the bolt is sort of pooched up. The others seem flat. Maybe it's just flow coat piled up, but it IS different from the others.

You know those boats were quite lightly built, and without backing plates for cleats, etc? You will want to add backing plates to the keel bolts, and for the anchoring gear, and for all the cleats.

Ann

[Adelie]

Have them wire brush the bolts clean of all the paint and rust, then look at them.

If they won't do the cleaning, walk away.

[grantmc]

Originally Posted by Skagerak

...
Would the look on these bolts make you worry that there could be any problems with the keel or the bolts?
...

Do you really need to ask?

They need to be taken out and inspected.
And they're grubby and that reflects lack of maintenance generally.

But in reality if you're serious and like that boat, get someone who knows about such stuff down to view. Say a surveyor, or boat builder.

It might cost you a couple of hundred, but the advice you'll receive will be worth more than the dross we give out here from our safe secure armchairs, even if we do only charge less than a penny.

Originally Posted by gonesail

find a boat with an encapsulated keel

Agree, OR welded!

[Skagerak]

Thanks for all the replies.

I do like the boat, it was a joy sailing in 20-24 knots of wind with one reef in the main, and the asked price is reasonable. Apart from the sailing there are other appealing things with the boat such as a fully renovated engine and sail drive, sails in good condition, amazing comfort inside including hot water and showers, new wind lasses for and aft, etc, easy handling when sailing etc.

having owned a boat built in the early 1970's that was in rather bad condition when I bought it and then fixing a lot on it, I am confident that I can do a lot of repairs myself, but replacing keel bolts is beyond my capability so that's something I would let a professional yard do if it comes to that.

Anyway, if I decide to proceed on the purchase I will let a professional do a full survey of the boat before buying it.

[pcmm]

Originally Posted by Kello

What you see of the bolts in the bilge is (basically) irrelevant to the actual condition of the bolts. Keel bolts are a maintenance item, just like most everything on a boat, and good manufacturers design their keels to (relatively) easily renew the keel bolts. Given the age of the boat, regardless of the bolt type (stainless, galvanized, something else) if you like the boat then plan on dropping the keel and renewing the bolts. Do some research first about renewing bolts for THAT keel.

How exactly do you see them as a maintenance item? Renewing the bolts generally would require recasting the keel unless it happens to be an iron keel and most keels are lead. I agree with you if its an Iron keel, you should be able to back out the bolts and replace them one at a time, but only if its an iron keel!