Lift needed- Shotley to Ramsholt tomorrow

CliveG

CliveG

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Now in Shotley.

On the way round from the Deben today the keel was thumping although it was pinned down.
Lifted the keel once in the marina and found that 3 of the 8 keel bolt heads have rusted though and come off.
3 of the others are close to doing the same and the last 2 look iffy.
I daren't take her back round as I suspect that the last few bolts would fail and 1/3 ton of steel casting would head for the bottom.
I have arranged to have her lifted ashore next week.
I need a lift back to Ramsholt to collect my car.

Is anybody around the area tomorrow that could help?
Phone 07860 461670 if you can.
 
O Well, no response

Plan B.
Ferry to Felixstowe.
Walk to Felixstowe Ferry.
Ferry to Bawdsey.
See if we can get a lift to Ramsholt form George or walk.
 
Lift all sorted

Sailorman and his good lady picked us up from the Shotley Ferry Pontoon in the good ship Jolie Brise and sailed us back to Ramsholt.

Again, Thanks Roger & Pam.
 
well done Roger.

Now, what about these bolts then? Were they the originals, or did you replace them post submarine?
 
I had to replace them at during the repair as I had to get the keel out of the box to access the damage.
The original bolts were Allen head mild steel bolts with stainless washers.
I replaced them with hex head mild steel bolts with stainless washers.
The stainless washers are o.k.
The keel and keel head are mild steel
Not sure what to use this time.
May try stainless bolts.
The head of the keel quickly fills with river mud.
This may have something in it that is causing the problem.
I may need to replace them each winter.
 
Having had a steel boat, we know all about that issues that can arise when mixing dissimilar metals.
We always use the same bolts, washers, nuts. If ever there was likely contact with mild steel by anything, we used fabric washers either side as a barrier and, if it was the body of the bolt touching, we used PTFE tape or similar around the bolt.
We also painted any holes after drilling etc before inserting bolts wherever possible.
It amazed me how quickly corrosion set it with mild steel and stainless together.
 
Clive, I never changed mine in 7 years, but did extract them each year - first time was hard work. Mine were mild steel bolts and washers, only lubricated with some form of low grip Loctite.
 
FullCircle said:
Clive, I never changed mine in 7 years, but did extract them each year - first time was hard work. Mine were mild steel bolts and washers, only lubricated with some form of low grip Loctite.
Click to expand...

Sounds like my issue is the s/s washers under the bolts.
I though that it should be the s/s that suffered if in contact with mild.

Looks like I shold go with all mild steel as Jim suggests.

On board now ready for lift out early tomorrow morning.
Then the fun begins.
 
Llift out went well.
Sirenia chocked up ashore with keel still attached!
The 2bolts still holding the keel to the head came out with a socket.
The head then lifted of leaving the stubs of 6 bolts sticking out of the top of the keel.
4 of those came out quite easily with a vice wrench.
I ground flats on the sides of the other 2.
The use of a club hammer on the wrench has shifted one of them.
The last one in the tail of the keel refuses to shift.
May have to drill it out.
 
I have managed to purchase replacement bolts!
2" x 1/2" whitworth set screws.
D J Evans at Bury St Edmaunds had to go into the farthest reaches of the old stock store to find them.
Only available in Mild steel.
I bought enough to have a complete spare set.
Mild steel washers to go with them.
Now need to get some anti-fouling ready for a boat fixing weekend!
 
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