Keel bolts

[pcatterall]

The recent PBO article made me think. I have never checked mine in 5 years of ownership (and the boat is 30 years young)
Help!! If I check a couple of bolts and they are good then is that enough for the season.
My bolts look good from the top and they also look like stainless, Is this a good thing as I am now told that stainless steel needs oxygen??
Kind comments please ( I can't help being an idiot!!)

 

[srp]

All the surveys I've seen taking place only involved drawing one keel bolt to start with - if ok leave the rest alone, if not try 2 more. If it's on your own boat, draw a different one each year year maybe?
316 stainless suffers from crevice corrosion in an oxygen depleted environment - it's the oxide coating on stainless that provides protection. If the bolt is scratched on its way into the keel and cannot subsequently oxidise, crevice corrosion can start. If your keel bolt holes leak slightly it's likely that the bolts will be ok as they have access to oxygen from the water.

 

[john_morris_uk]

I am not familiar with the Colvic Atlanta.

If she is GRP, then most people don't worry too much about the keel bolts on their GRP boats unless there are signs that something is wrong. You are right to be concerned about crevice corrosion, but most GRP keel bolts are so well masticked in place that crevis corrosion isn't too much of a problem either.

If the Colvic were to be wooden, then the article in PBO applies...

 

[ColinHuggins]

I'd have a couple drawn. And at the slightest suspicion of wear, the lot! If you want to sleep soundly at night that is.