SHE 31 Keelbolts

[whipcord]

Does anybodyknow what the keelbolt in a SHE 31 looks like?
I ask the Question as I'm thinking af drawing a couple for inspection, they are 35 year old. There are 20 of them in 2 rows of ten. The end inside the yacht is as expected threaded bar with a nut on the end, however the other end on the keel flange looks like a big rivet head approx 1" diameter.What I don't know is how this head might interface with the keel (screwed in or loose or a shaped head into a shaped hole.)

 

[Windfall]

We drew the keel bolts on our She 31b two years ago. They are machine screws with a clearance hole (counter sunk) through the keel. As you can see they have a nut and a plate on the inside.

Sheba is from 1970. We drew 12 bolts from various locations, all were perfect and we simply put them back we did replace one or two nuts but the bolts themselves were as good as the day the keel was laid.

What version of the She do you have and where do you keep her? We love ours, she is small and uncomfortable but she sails like a witch. We have spent a lot of time refitting our boat, so any more questions you might have just send them this way /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[whipcord]

Many thanks, that clarifies the way I thought it was.

The boat we've got is a she 31 'traveller' which I think may also be a 31 b.
She's been in our ownership for 2 years and is our first boat. She's a great boat and as you say is built for sailing not comfort. Currently located on the hard at whitehaven.

Have you got the version with a 'c' shaped settee or a bunk either side?

 

[Windfall]

The Traveller and the 31B are different. The Traveller has a different coachroof and profile, and a slightly different keel placement.

The 31b has neither a c shaped saloon nor a fixed table.

There is a chap who sometimes contributes who has a traveller (or maybe a delta yet another variant) I think he's userid is Witchdoctor. He might be a useful contact for you. I know that his keel configuration is different to ours coz he's been along to look at Sheba re' fitting a folding prop.

But great boats none the less!

Sharon

 

[Demara]

replacement keel bolts for She 31

Hi , do you still have the She 31 and did you sort out the keel bolts.

I have recently bought a Delta version and the keel bolts are not looking good with the threads deteriorating and a lot of the nuts and washers rusting badly. I would like to replace about 12 of them but I only have three spare keel bolts . Do you know where I can get replacement bolts from.
Best wishes, Demara

 

[Demara]

She 31 keelbolts

Hi Whipcord, Yes I do have the details of a She 31 , Laird Adams Delta version keel bolt. As the keel looks the same in all versions I would imagine the specs are the same.

The bolts are 3 inches long with a diameter of 5/8 inch and they have a countersunk head . The threads were 5/8 UNC and they were made of high tensile steel with a zinc coating.

The unusual aspect is the depth of the countersunk head which I have been told is deeper than the industry standards for 5/8 UNC or for M16 a near equivalent.

The head diameter is 19/16 on the outer end and tapering to a 5/8 shank over a depth of 1/2 inch.

The countersunk section has to fit accurately into the keel flange and they finish up about 3/16 inch below the surface of the casting and a filler is use to fair off and prevent corrosion,

The standard 5/8 and M16 countersunk bolts appear to fit snuggly from the outside but they do not actually sit properly in the casting and I have been advised by engineers that the bolts and possibly the casting would be stressed and fail by their use. So I have had quotes for new custom bolts at about £18 each in plated High tensile steel or £25 in A4 stainless.

I can send you a drawing of the bolts if it would help.

The bottom of the boat is about an inch thick and so far my bolts have tapped out easily.

Best wihes,

Demara