Glassed in Keel bolts

Gman

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Looking at a Jeanneau 35' mid 1980's and the keel bolts have been glassed in. Anyone show any light on the reason for this. Looks like it was an ex charter yacht.
 

Tranona

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Looking at a Jeanneau 35' mid 1980's and the keel bolts have been glassed in. Anyone show any light on the reason for this. Looks like it was an ex charter yacht.

Likely to have been like that from new. Was very common back then and ensured a clean bilge. Not so good if you have to do serious work on them, although the need for that is unlikely. important to check the keel/hull joint for any movement as water getting in there can cause corrosion of the bolts. Also look for signs of disclouration around the glassed in nuts as that could indicate rust bleeding upwards.
 

Robin

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Likely to have been like that from new. Was very common back then and ensured a clean bilge. Not so good if you have to do serious work on them, although the need for that is unlikely. important to check the keel/hull joint for any movement as water getting in there can cause corrosion of the bolts. Also look for signs of disclouration around the glassed in nuts as that could indicate rust bleeding upwards.

Wehave perviously owned a 1978 westerly 33 ketch (for 14 years) and a 1988 Jeaneau sun Legende (for 10 years) and both of those had glassed in keel bolts or rather glassed over ones.Our current 1998 Beneteau Oceanis 36CC which has internal mouldings has exposed keel bolts and yes they have rust stains on them from bilge water, which in our case is fresh water and comes from the condensate from the main cabin air condioner which drains to the main bilge sump before being pumped overboard by the automatic bilge pump.

This is why,if the boat is/becomes a serious purchase contender, that a full professional survey is essential, but as said it was quite common back then to glass over the bolts internally.
 
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