Keel Bolts, seepage. Mirage 28

[frlrubett]

Have been considering a mirage 28 but one of the bilges containing the fin keel bolt has salt water in it. The other bolts have not been glassed in, like every boat ive seen, not sure how normal that is?

Pics attached, thoughts?

 

[MoodySabre]

What is the external condition of the keel/hull joint? If you think that sea water is coming in through the keel bolt then it could be that the keels need to be dropped and a new joint made and new bolts put in place. Not a cheap job. This was not in common with Westerlies I believe.
You could ask for a couple of bolts to be withdrawn as that would make the position clear.

 

[[70521]]

I had a Mirage 28 Mk II bilge version and yours looks a lot cleaner than mine did.

 

[Tranona]

That does not look unusual and is unlikely to be water coming in from outside up the bolt. clean around it and isolate that area if the boat is in the water and you will see pretty quickly if water is coming up. If it is out of the water inspect the hull/keel joint around the area of that bolt for any sign that it is breaking down.

 

[frlrubett]

Yeah, thought it was a bit weird. Owner said he had not checked the bolts for a long time.

What is the worst case scenario fix? Is it a DIY job?

 

[Keith 66]

I worked at Thames marine when they were building Mirages, Keels were bolted on with the boat hanging in a gantry with four chain blocks so the boat could be rolled side to side, the keel bolts were big stainless steel studs that screwed into threaded holes in the ballast. Sealant was a two part polysulphide. Bolts done up with a dirty great air wrench.
Although a relatively simple job to drop & reseal you need to be able to either block the boat up & have a fixture that will support the keel when its off or have access to a similar lifting gantry. Each keel is over half a ton so you dont want it to fall on you!

 

[frlrubett]

This is the fin keel version. But thanks for the knowlege.

 

[vyv_cox]

You can find on this forum dozens of queries like yours. It is very common to find water in the bilge due to spillage, window or toilet leaks and countless others. In the past the washers beneath the stainless steel nuts were commonly mild steel, which of course rusted. My boat was exactly like this with a rusty tide mark in the forward bilge compartment. It was due to leaks from the toilet.

I have had a leaking keel bolt after a poor insurance repair. It is unmistakeable, as rusty water leaks into the boat, especially on a beat upwind.

 

[Keith 66]

A bit easier to deal with then, But you still need to hold the keel steady & lift the boat up off it

 

[PabloPicasso]

Have been considering a mirage 28 but one of the bilges containing the fin keel bolt has salt water in it. The other bolts have not been glassed in, like every boat ive seen, not sure how normal that is?

Pics attached, thoughts?

I pulled a keel olt on the advice of an insurance surveyor
https://youtube.com/channel/UCNOYkBjyAHMmONkD0mfFgiQ

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

I was about to comment that it could be water sneaking in through limber holes from elswhere, but there are no limber holes. You say it is salt water, so it's not from a deck leakage. I would sugest drying up those bilge cavities, then depositing a few pieces of blue paper towel , not in contact with each other, around the area, to see which ones show water stains, indicating where the moisture might coming from.

 

[PabloPicasso]

I was about to comment that it could be water sneaking in through limber holes from elswhere, but there are no limber holes. You say it is salt water, so it's not from a deck leakage. I would sugest drying up those bilge cavities, then depositing a few pieces of blue paper towel , not in contact with each other, around the area, to see which ones show water stains, indicating where the moisture might coming from.

Sprinkling talcum powder or seived flour might also do a similar job.