Keel bolts
Hi, I'm thinking about the keel bolts of my Swan 38#015, did anybody have never problem with the bolts of this kind of boat? If yes, what is the easy way to verify it? I saw that they are covered by fiberglass, so is a good idea to an-cover and try to screw hard? And than is it a good idea to recover after this?
Can "The professor" give me info too? Thanks to everybody and fair wind. enzo

Dear Enzo

If you can see a crack opening up between hull and keel at the forward or aft end of the keel it is advisable to check the tension in the bolts. This means you need to dig the nuts out.

Corrosion on the bolts would be visible as rust coming out from the crack or the keel-hull joint

There are 15 bolts M24, and 2 bolts M20. The recommended torque for M20 is 150 Nm, and for M24 260 Nm.

After the job is done the nuts have to be locked again, either by matting over, or for example with a second low nut, or with a washer edge bent up.

Kind regards

Lars

Dear Lars,

I remember I already contacted you ( about one year ago) to talk about  this problem  which I found on my 48' (Clarion of Skye). I fiilled the crack with filler and after around 1500 miles ( from UK to Italy) when I hauled the boat I didn't see any "moovement"  where the crack previously was untill we put the boat on the cradle.  Then the filler cracked again , even if less than the previous time.

I attached here the pictures taken one year ago

No rust is coming out of the crack but it is very difficult to check the inside because  of the mast step and water tanks.

I have also been told by a UK surveyor that old S&S have this problem because the aft and fwd part of the keel is too thin to have bolts close to boths ends. Do you think it would be better to take off all tanks and check all bolts carefully?

Dear Sergio

It should be sufficient to check bolt tension only in the area where the cracking occurs. In the picture it is the aft end.

It is correct that the trailing edge of the keel tends to be so narrow that the aftermost bolt is some distance away. If tensioning does not help there are other possibilities, but they are difficult to add to an existing keel

Kind regards

Lars

Dear lars,

thank you for your prompt answer. Can you please tell me which size are the bolts ( and in case max torque to use)

Thanks again

Sergio

Sergio

There are 21 bolts M24. Torque same as above.

Lars

Lars,

thanks for your help

Sergio (Clarion of Skye 48/042)