Lessons I Learned From Info About How To Check Keel Bolts

On an iron keel, the pattern of rust staining will indicate whether the problem is with the keel or bolts, with the smile being broader and more continuous if it is the keel.

How to check keel bolts. The keel is bolted right up against the canoe body of the hull, and the joint always moves a bit there, with rust resulting. Yes, it is possible to remove inspect and replace if needed your keel bolts while your boat is still in the water, but you have to do it one at the time!we f. Have someone else hit it with the sledge.

However, before you pale in fear,. You lay your palm across the joint. No rust in the body.

How to check keel bolts. Not as difficult as it sounds. We where very lucky the keel bolt came lose very easily, and it was looking great!

With cast iron keels, the impact is not absorbed as efficiently through the keel. Check for signs of stress crazing around the gelcoat where the keel joins the hull. The corrosion that happens to the keel bolts is hidden in the hull between the nuts and the keel.

Without dropping the keel, the only portions of the keel fasteners that are visible are in the bilges. In this thread in this sub. If the threads on the nuts show any signs.

Remove each nut and carefully clean the threads and then lubricate to make sure that i am not applying torque to a nut that is corroded to the bolt. This is a nuisance, but harmless—unless water in the joint. The only way to inspect this to drop the keel.

You need the boat on a proper cradle with about 24 inches clearance under the keel for a couple of hydraulic car jacks. Replacing_keel_bolt_step_1 inspecting the keel bolt: Have someone hold the 2 x 4 alongside the keel below the joint to the hull.

You also need to rig up. If there are leaks around the bolts but you are satisfied with the condition of the bolts, this can be stopped as a temporary. Leaking keel bolts are a sure sign that all is not well, particularly with stainless steel.