Stainless Steel Keel Bolts

[Craigt]

I am restoring a 24' carvel planked keeler of unknown age and origin. The keel is steel with a lead bulb. The existing bolts were galv steel, will stainless steel bolts be a suitable replacement or will these react with the copper fastnings?

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[Plum]

The risk of crevice corrosion on stainless steel due to oxygen starvation is very high so normal advice for any boat is not to use stainless steel fastenings below the waterline. Hot dip galvanised steel (preferably low carbon steel, and make sure it is hot dip, not electrocoated) would be the most reliable. Don't seal them in with any high-tech mastic as someone will have to remove them for inspection in 12 years time (maybe you?). Coating them with bitumen paint will help, but I expect others will recommend their favourite goop.

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[tillergirl]

I'm with Plum on this. Avoid Stainless underwater. The Galv will be much cheaper too. I have to confess that my Bilge Keels are held on with Stainless Studs and Bolts (it can like that) and its always worried me. To be fair though I have to report that I drew every bolt last year and there was no sign of corrosion. I've had the boat 11 years and I think they were done like that some five years or more earlier. But I don't think I would use Stainless if I replaced them.

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[Peterduck]

I agree with the other correspondents about the use of Satinless steel below the waterline; Don't! If you go by the hot-dipped galvanised route, think carefully about the antifouling that you put on afterward. Don't use a copper-rich one, or you may find the galvanising disappearing quickly. Go for one of the kind which are recommended for aluminium sterndrives and so on.
Peter.

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