Keel bolt rust, okay or replace?

[BarnabyBoat]

Hi All,
I am new to this world!
I looked at a boat today, it’s all pretty good, however I am concerned about the state of the keel bolts. Do they look like they need immediate replacement or would you live with them and not overly worry?!? Suspect it’s a negotiation point….
Any advice sincerely appreciated.

 

[Tranona]

Welcome to the forum

That is completely normal in older boats which get water in the bilge. The bolt will be fine. If you don't like the surface corrosion then clean off the head and paint it.

 

[BarnabyBoat]

Many, many thanks!
I had a sleepless night over this!
Will post some images of the boat when purchased.

 

[Caer Urfa]

They look original to the boat and sooner rather than later those bolts in that condition will be trouble and tightening it might snap it, as a surveyor I would recommend they are replaced and yes a negotiation tool as you would not replace just one but all at the same time

 

[PabloPicasso]

I pulled a keel bolt that looked "rather crusty" on the recomendation of a surveyor and it was perfect.

See here

To get the bolt out (actually a stud with a nut) we used a good quality impact gun and the socket designed for it. Normal sockets will likely shatter.

If I remember rightly it took a consistent full 5 or 6 minutes of banging away torque with the impact gun before the bolt came free.

Obviously, the boat was ashore in a cradle at the time.

It was the aft most keel bolt, as apparently, this is the one most likely to have an issue if, for instances, the boat has taken a hard grounding. Fortunately my boat did not have any issues.

 

[Tranona]

They look original to the boat and sooner rather than later those bolts in that condition will be trouble and tightening it might snap it, as a surveyor I would recommend they are replaced and yes a negotiation tool as you would not replace just one but all at the same time

Why? As in post#5 the bolts are more than likely be perfect. In the absence of ay sign of damage of failure of the hull to keel joint there is no reason to think there is anything wrong with the bolts. They are way overengineered and nothing in normal use will cause them to fail. Surface rust on the head has no effect on strength of the bolt. They just need cleaning up and painting to mi9nimise further unsightly rusting.