Seepage at keel bolt

[MJWB]

Boat (Griffon bilge keel) back in the water one week and now noticed some seepage on one keelbolt, starboard aftermost. About a thimble full in 4 days. It is salt water. Going to speak with the yard about it but can anyone offer me advice please? Reasonably new to this. Bit worried so much appreciated.

 

[vyv_cox]

As a temporary measure it should be possible to undo the nut, pull up the washer and inject some hybrid sealant down there, replacing nut and washer. CT1 or OB1 will set under water but if you can dry out to do it any water flow would be halted. Next winter it will be worth having the keels redbedded.

 

[wallacebob]

Have a look at WOA website. Westerly advice was to wind caulking and cotton string round the base of thread and retighten. Nut. Very common issue, has your boat been reinforced at keel stubs with internal webs? It can be a diy job to drop and re-seal if it gets worse, but any competent yard will have done a few Westerly keels.

 

[MJWB]

As a temporary measure it should be possible to undo the nut, pull up the washer and inject some hybrid sealant down there, replacing nut and washer. CT1 or OB1 will set under water but if you can dry out to do it any water flow would be halted. Next winter it will be worth having the keels redbedded.

Many thanks. Is it okay to do this afloat?

 

[MJWB]

Have a look at WOA website. Westerly advice was to wind caulking and cotton string round the base of thread and retighten. Nut. Very common issue, has your boat been reinforced at keel stubs with internal webs? It can be a diy job to drop and re-seal if it gets worse, but any competent yard will have done a few Westerly keels.

Thanks for that. It's a Club version so reinforcing should have been sorted by then after troubles with Mk1. Will be speaking to local yard who know the boat.

 

[Iliade]

It may well take up in a couple of weeks anyway. If not, don't worry, it can be addressed afloat as described above. (Oakum/cotton caulk, not goo.)

 

[MJWB]

It may well take up in a couple of weeks anyway. If not, don't worry, it can be addressed afloat as described above. (Oakum/cotton caulk, not goo.)

Many thanks

 

[penfold]

Take up? It's GRP, not wood.

 

[Iliade]

It's cotton and other natural fibres.

 

[Concerto]

As a Westerly owner you should look at the massive amount of information on the Westerly Wiki pages. The relevant page on keels is this one.
Re bedding Keels - Westerly-Wiki