encapsulated keep bolts

UK-WOOZY

UK-WOOZY

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encapsulated keel bolts

on my jeanneau sundream 28 the bolts are encapsulated. mine is the lift keel version with long keel stub. is it worth cutting the fiberglass around the bolts to check one at least? I had a survey last saturday and the survey saw no signs of keel movement or rusting residue. but before i launch is it worth checking? bearing in mind it will create a load of dust in the newly relined cabin? :ambivalence:
 
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No. If there is no external sign of water ingress the bolts will be fine. Checking keel bolts without any signs of damage or water ingress went out with wooden boats.
 
As Tranona says. If there is no rust in the bilge and the join between the keel and hull is good there is absolutely no need to do anything. Crevice corrosion of stainless steel in wood is a constant problem, several photos on my website, because wood under water is always wet. GRP does not absorb water, so unless the area is obviously wet there will be no corrosion.
 
I bought a 72' Westerly 31 Longbow few months ago.The keel bolts are not encaptulated but covered with polyester. For me it was easy -just broke it with a screwdriver and a hammer lightly. To my relief i discovered that 2 keelbolts i tried where looking like new even after all these years. Problem with polyester caps that are cracked and trap bildge water inside not letting the bolt dry. Making more bad than good i guess. I plan to keep the bildge as dry as possible.
If mine are fine, i guess there is no chance you can have corrosion either!
 
Until 2 seasons ago I sailed a 1988 Jeanneau Eolia. I remember idly surfing the net one evening and saw a website maintained by a respected surveyor showing a picture of encapsulated keel bolts in an Eolia, saying that this boat must have problems and that the keel bolts should be drawn and changed. Gloom, doom and despondency.

Next time I was aboard I tool a look at my keel bolts. Exactly the same: just as encapsulated and, according to my surveyor, serviceable and no problems. I was happy with what I saw and so was the surveyor who checked the boat for the chap I sold it to.

So: Up to you. Encapsulation of the keel bolts/nuts was a regular thing for Jeanneau to do. Unless you can see some rusting seeping from to the top or between the keel and hull I'd leave well alone. But of course it's your boat... :-)

Interestingly I had a 1988 Pegasus 700 bilge keeler a few years ago and had the keel bolts withdrawn. Good as the day that they'd been fitted in the factory. No necking, staining, crevasse corrosion or anything bad. But the (supposedly reputable) boatbuilder was full of tales of woe and told me that I MUST replace them now they were drawn. GBP 18:00 each he wanted. He was less than impressed when I made them in stainless steel for around GBP 2:00 each...
 
ok, as i saw no rusting before i painted the bilge and the surveyor was happy with what he saw i will leave it. thank you all for the replys.
 
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