Keel bolt encapsulation - What to use?

[Little Rascal]

I've just had to check heads of my keel bolts for corrosion.

They had been encapsulated/covered with what looks like car body filler which hadn't really adhered to the grp. As a result bilge water had seeped under a little and I feared the bolts were working (sleepless nights!)

It seems they are fine - no rust to speak of and no movement of the boltheads.

But what should I use to re-encapsulate them?

Epoxy putty? or something easier to remove?

 

[Tranona]

Presumably they are mild steel. If so, just clean them and paint.

 

[vyv_cox]

New boats have keel bolts covered in flow coat, which is gelcoat with added wax to ensure that the surface is not sticky. Doing this on an older boat might be seen as going over the top but it does make everything look good. The whole area must be clean and surface prepared before applying. Otherwise, as Tranona says, paint is as good as anything.

 

[Dipper]

Mine were originally encapsulated in GRP. When I renewed the studs I coated the nuts and the GRP about 2 cm around in several layers of the very cheap rubberised car underseal not the more expensive waxy stuff. They still seem totally protected eleven years later.

I figured that anything designed to protect the underneath of a car from stone chips and water should do the job. The rubberised underseal claims to 'self seal' if a small hole develops.

 

[Independence]

I had my keel bolts removed and checked last year. They were originally encpaulated as well but I was advised by the boat builder not to cover them up again as this would not allow me to keep an eye on them for any corrosion.

They were given 2 coats of eopoxy pitch. I wanted to add another couple of coats just to be double, double sure until I realised the stuff was about £40 a tin. I added a couple of coats of good old Hammerite but wouldn't recommend this as a primary source of protection.

 

[Leonidas]

I've just had to check heads of my keel bolts for corrosion.

They had been encapsulated/covered with what looks like car body filler which hadn't really adhered to the grp. As a result bilge water had seeped under a little and I feared the bolts were working (sleepless nights!)

It seems they are fine - no rust to speak of and no movement of the boltheads.

But what should I use to re-encapsulate them?

Epoxy putty? or something easier to remove?

Wire brush, remove any rust and paint with anticorrosive paint as suggested . In addition, for further protection, I would cut short stubs out of plastic pipe of sufficient diameter and length to cover the bolt and nut with a couple of centimetres to spare, encapsulate and fill it with hot tallow. This once cooled down and solidified will cover the previously exposed bolt and nut and waterproof it against the bilge water, at the same time easily removable for inspection from time to time.