Rusty keel bolts - should I buy this boat?

[AndrewB]

A mid-sized Moody, about 25 years old. I've beaten it down to a good price. The survey was good, usual sort of minor problems you might expect, but generally the boat has been well looked after. But one real problem. When the boat was hauled out, for the first time in a year, there was a slight rust weep along the keel/hull joint. The tops of the mild steel keel-bolts look decidedly rusty. The GRP around the keel-stub tested a good deal damper than the rest of the hull (which otherwise was good).

The surveyor's recommendation is to draw out the keel-bolts and replace them if they are corroded. How big a job is this - how difficult is it to remove old keel-bolts and will it require an extended out-of-commission period? I have agreed with the seller that I will not seek a further price reduction for minor items, but am I looking at mega££s here?

Shame to lose the boat over this, as the haul-out and survey have cost £1,000 already.

 

[saltylegs]

I would not be worried about it, you can pull the bolts one at a time and replace if need be, sounds like you have bottomed out on the price so go for it and health to enjoy.

 

[TQA]

I would not be worried about it, you can pull the bolts one at a time and replace if need be, sounds like you have bottomed out on the price so go for it and health to enjoy.

Attempt to pull one bolt and see what happens. With the sellers agreement of course!

 

[Bosun Higgs]

Your surveyor will cover his ar5e - he'd be a fool not to. Personally I wouldnt even bother withdrawing one. You cannot expect perfection in a boat of the age but it is unlikely that the bolts will have rusted to the point where they become weak if the weap is only small as you say. My inclination would be to clear out the join, seal with mastic and forget. If the joint is dry and the bilges are dry as they should be on a grp boat, then further rusting cannot occurr.

 

[PhillM]

Call Bob or Dave at BDA - what they don't know about Moody's isn't worth knowing.

They will give you an honest appraisal.

I'd trust them with my life. In fact I do - they did the important stuff fur my refit.

http://bdamarine.co.uk/about.php

If there is any doubt, pay them to drive down and take a look. My guess is that if its not all fine they can tell you what it will cost to fix it - then you know how much you need to take off your offer.

Pm me if you want to talk in private.

 

[lw395]

Call Bob or Dave at BDA - what they don't know about Moody's isn't worth knowing.

They will give you an honest appraisal.

I'd trust them with my life. In fact I do - they did the important stuff fur my refit.

http://bdamarine.co.uk/about.php

If there is any doubt, pay them to drive down and take a look. My guess is that if its not all fine they can tell you what it will cost to fix it - then you know how much you need to take off your offer.

Pm me if you want to talk in private.

+1.
It wants sorting, but should not be hard and can probably wait till winter.
Drop the keel off.
Clean up
Refit with new bolts or nuts and washers and sealant to taste.
The boat will want to be in a good cradle probably, so planning to take it to a yard where Moody specialists lurk may be the right scheme for next winter.

It would be worth a quick word with your insurance broker to be sure the would be happy with waiting, I sold my first boat with a comparable fixable defect and the buyer's insurance co was a bit snotty IMHO.
Once it's in the survey they may want it fixed.
Just a thought.

 

[zambant]

Hi,
Join the Moody Owners Association - there are NUMEROUS discussions on the keel bolt issue - it will be worth every penny .
IMHO it is not a show stopper......
Enjoy your new Moody
John

 

[Niander]

One cannot just assume they are ok! .....Ignorance is bliss?

 

[pmagowan]

My boat was 50 when I bought it. I bought it and then looked at the keel bolts. Dropped one out, rust on exposed parts but rest was perfect. I stuck a new one in and expect another 50 years. Do what you are comfortable with but I would not worry as either way it is easy maintainance.

 

[jerrytug]

Why buy a vessel with the rococo design feature of a keel held on with nuts and bolts?

 

[Spyro]

The problem with that is the insurance comp will want a Copy of the survey and will want it sorted even if everything's ok.

 

[Tranona]

Why buy a vessel with the rococo design feature of a keel held on with nuts and bolts?

There is nothing wrong with the Moody keel attachments - same in principle as most other boats of similar type. Only downside is that they use mild steel rather than stainless and do not glass over the nuts inside. As the boats are prone to leak a bit the nuts rust and look a mess, but invariably there is nothing wrong with the studs into the keel, so it is not going to fall off!

For the OP, not something to put you off if the rest of the boat is OK. If the stains between the keel and hull don't respond to cleaning out the seam and refilling, the remedy is straightforward dropping the keel and resealing with new studs and nuts.

 

[saxonpirate]

As others have said, its not that bigger deal... and the surveyor 'will' be covering his rear end.

If the bolt heads had been glassed over (and a lot are) or lathered in Danboline the chances are you would just be looking at a minor keel joint weep which is pretty common. Unless the bolt heads are so badly corroded that a smack with a hammer would see them turn into a pile of dust/rust, I wouldn't be too worried about it, there's a lot of meat in them there bolts. Also the higher moisture readings in around the keel stub is fairly normal in the greater scheme of things. Its not a 'mega' job to draw keel-bolts so don't let anybody tell you it is, and it shouldn't cost mega£'s to do the job anyway if you shop around.

You've negotiated a good price and committed yourself with a haul out and survey , the boat has been well looked after... I'd go for it.

 

[clyst]

As others have said, its not that bigger deal... and the surveyor 'will' be covering his rear end.

If the bolt heads had been glassed over (and a lot are) or lathered in Danboline the chances are you would just be looking at a minor keel joint weep which is pretty common. Unless the bolt heads are so badly corroded that a smack with a hammer would see them turn into a pile of dust/rust, I wouldn't be too worried about it, there's a lot of meat in them there bolts. Also the higher moisture readings in around the keel stub is fairly normal in the greater scheme of things. Its not a 'mega' job to draw keel-bolts so don't let anybody tell you it is, and it shouldn't cost mega£'s to do the job anyway if you shop around.

You've negotiated a good price and committed yourself with a haul out and survey , the boat has been well looked after... I'd go for it.

I agree that keel bolts normally not difficult to remove on Moodys ..............except the one under the engine .

 

[jonic]

Seen this 100's of times on Moodys and usually, as Tranona says, it's just surface rust.

Bob and Dave at BDA are excellent and it may also be worth having a word with John Cherry.

http://johncherryyachtsurveys.co.uk/

John worked for Moody for over 15 years and is very knowledgeable.