Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.
The keel bolts and nuts on my '81 Cat 25 are rusted to the point that my local boatyard says that the nuts cannot be removed. I seem to always have just enough water in my bilge to just cover the nuts. Now, I know that when marine archaeologists raise something like a cannon from a shipwreck, they immediately immerse it in water to prevent it from rusting. So I am wondering if keeping the keel bolts and nuts just under water is possibly keeping them from rusting, or making the matter worse. All thoughts appreciated. Thanks.
The keel bolts and nuts on that vintage are mild steel, prone to rusting--later years with lead keels have stainless. Removing the nuts would likely damage the bolts to the point that you wouldn't be able to put new nuts on them. The only real remedy is to drill and tap for new stainless bolts, "sistered" in with the originals. Several participants here have done that (or had it done). You can search for threads discussing that. (C-25 forum, "keel bolts"...)
Where are you--in salt water or fresh? Is the water from rain (fairly normal) or from below (not so good)? If you can get the nuts/bolts dried out, some coal tar, roofing cement, or similar goop can help to retard their deterioration. The nuts have to disappear almost completely before the keel is going to fall off.
Thanks, Dave. I did get some advice earlier about sistering new bolts into the keel. Opinions seemed to vary on how difficult that was. I like the idea about coal tar/roofing cement--I think I'll give that a shot. At least I won't be able to see them anymore!!
I forgot to mention: I'm near the Pamlico Sound so the water is probably more salt than fresh. The bilge water seems to be mainly from rain insofar as the level does not change much.
I have a length of keel bolt all-thread that I bought from Catalina Direct. If you decide to sister the bolts then let me know. it is not impossible but it takes time.
Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ. The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.